Larvicidal, Adulticidal and Lethal Time Activity of Indigenous Trichoderma spp. Against Housefly (Musca domestica L.) in Katsina State, Nigeria<b></b>

The housefly (Musca domestica L.) is an important mechanical vector of numerous pathogens affecting both humans and animals. The increasing development of resistance to synthetic insecticides and growing environmental concerns have stimulated interest in biological control agents such as entomopathogenic fungi. This study evaluated the larvicidal and adulticidal activities of an indigenous isolate of Trichoderma spp. against housefly larvae and adults under laboratory conditions. Different concentrations of fungal conidial suspensions (1x106, 1x107, and 1x108 conidia/mL) were prepared and applied to 2ndinstar larvae and 10-day old adults of housefly. Mortality was recorded at 24-, 48-, and 72hour intervals and lethal time values (LT50) were determined. Results showed that Trichoderma spp. caused significant mortality in both larval and adult stages of Musca domestica, with mortality increasing with concentration and exposure period. Higher concentrations (75%) produced significantly greater mortality and shorter lethal times than lower concentrations. The findings indicate that indigenous Trichoderma spp. possesses considerable entomopathogenic potential against houseflies and may serve as an environmentally friendly alternative for housefly management. Further studies are recommended to evaluate its field performance and formulation for large-scale application.