Data for conidial viability.

<div><p><i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> (Balsamo) Vuillemin are entomopathogenic fungi commonly used in microbial control of arthropods. In this study, we evaluated the insecticidal potential of six isolates of <i>B</i>. <i>bassiana</i> (BIITAC10.3.3, BIITAC6.2.2, and BIITAC8.1.5) and <i>M</i>. <i>anisopliae</i> (MIITAC11.3.4, MIITAC6.2.2, and MIITAC6.4.2) from Cameroon, against the banana aphid <i>Pentalonia nigronervosa</i> Coquerel, the vector of the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Pathogenicity tests were initially conducted using <i>B</i>. <i>bassiana</i> and <i>M</i>. <i>anisopliae</i> isolates at a concentration of 3.2 × 10<sup>6</sup> conidia/ml on <i>P</i>. <i>nigronervosa</i> adults sourced from four agroecologies in Cameroon. Four isolates (BIITAC6.2.2, BIITAC10.3.3, BIITAC8.1.5, and MIITAC6.2.2) were highly pathogenic, causing greater than 75% aphid mortality in all populations. A significant decrease in aphid fecundity was observed with BIITAC6.2.2, MIITAC6.2.2, and BIITAC10.3.3. These three isolates were in a test of a series of four fungal concentrations (3.2 × 10<sup>1</sup>, 3.2 × 10<sup>2</sup>, 3.2 × 10<sup>4</sup>, and 3.2 × 10<sup>6</sup> conidia/ml). produced LC<sub>50</sub> of 1.31 × 10<sup>1</sup> and 3.12 × 10<sup>−2</sup> for BIITAC10.3.3 and MIITAC6.2.2, respectively. MIITAC6.2.2 had the lowest LC<sub>90</sub> (1.55 × 10<sup>3</sup>). Our results strongly support the continued development of biopesticides based on one or more of the three fungal entomopathogens for the control of banana aphids as a component of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy for the reduction of the prevalence and transmission of BBTV under field conditions.</p></div>