Fernando García del Pino

Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against neonate larvae of Capnodis tenebrionis (L.) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in laboratory trials

The efficacy of five entomopathogenic nematode strains of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae was tested against the neonate larvae of Capnodis tenebrionis. The nematode strains screened included two of Steinernema carpocapsae (Exhibit and M137), and one each of S. feltiae (S6), S. arenarium (S2), and Heterorhanditis bacteriophora (P4). Exposure of neonate larvae of Capnodis to 10 and 150 infective juveniles (IJs) per larva (equivalent to 3 and 48 IJs/cm2 respectively) in test tubes with sterile sand, resulted in mortality between 60–91% and 96–100%, respectively. At a concentration of 150 IJs/larva, all of the nematode strains were highly virulent. Both S. carpocapsae strains (Exhibit and M137) caused infection and mortality to larvae more quickly than the other strains. However, at a lower concentration assay (10 IJs/larva), S. arenarium was the most virulent strain. The penetration rate as an indicator of entomopathogenic nematode infection was also evaluated. The highest value was recorded for S. arenarium (36%), followed by H. bacteriophora (30.6%), S. feltiae (23.1%), and S. carpocapsae (20.7%).

Orchard Applications of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Spain

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are important biological control agents for a variety of pests, especially for soil–dwelling insect pests. Worldwide, EPNs have been used in strawberry plantations, mushroom production, orchards, production nurseries, greenhouses and turfgrass (Grewal, Ehlers, & Shapiro-Ilan, 2005). Currently, over 42 EPN products from five different species (Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) Wouts, Mracek, Gerdin & Bedding (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) Wouts, Mracek, Gerdin & Bedding [Rhabditida: Steinernematidae], Steinernema kraussei (Steiner) Travassos [Rhabditida: Steinernematidae], Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar [Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae] and Heterorhabditis megidis Poinar, Jackson & Klein [Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae]) can be commercialized in Spain (MAGRAMA, 2014). These EPNs are supplied by ten different producers, six international and four Spanish companies. However, in Spain, EPNs have been applied against few selected pests in some crops, frequently in organic farming or in conventional management plantations as the last choice when chemical pesticides have failed. An example is the use of EPNs against the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Due to the high efficacy of EPNs observed in the control of R. ferrugineus and the low efficacy of most of the chemical pesticides, EPNs have been one of the principal control methods of this weevil pest in Spain (Dembilio, Llacer, Martinez de Altube, & Jacas, 2010; Llacer, Martinez de Altube, & Jacas, 2009).