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Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema carpocapsae for controlling alfalfa weevil

Application of Heterorhabditis indica and S. carpocapase at the rate 1 billion nematodes per hectare can reduce 72 and 50% population of alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica grubs, respectively.  Another entomopathogenic nematode, Steinemema thermophillum was also effective in killing H. postica grubs (Shah et al., 2011).

Read following paper for information on the effect of entomopathogenic nematodes on alfalfa weevil

Shah, N.K., Azmi, M.I. and Tyagi, P.K. 2011. Pathogenicity of Rhabditid nematodes (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) to the grubs of alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Range Management and Agroforestry 32: 64-67.

The application of an entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora at the rate of 0.5 million infective juveniles per square meter can significantly reduce the population of Dorcadion pseudopreissi infesting turf grass (Lolium perenne) in the field (Susurluk et al. (2011).

Read following papers for more information.

Susurluk, I.A., Kumral, N.A., Bilgili, U. and Acikgoz, E. 2011. Control of a new turf pest, Dorcadion pseudopreissi (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), with the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. Journal of Pest Science 84: 321-326.

Susurluk, I.A., Kumral, N.A., Peters, A., Bilgili, U. and Acikgoz, E. 2009.  Pathogenicity, reproduction and foraging behaviours of some entomopathogenic nematodes on a new turf pest, Dorcadion pseudopreissi (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 19: 585-594.

Recently, Hiltpold et al. (2011) studied the relationship between synthesis and release of (E)-beta-caryophyllene (E beta C) in maize roots upon feeding by larvae of the Western corn root worm,  Diabrotica virgifera virgifera and attraction of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis megidis. These researchers reported that nematodes were attracted to the maize roots that were injured by D. virgifera virgifera.

Read following papers for more information.

Ali, J.G., Alborn, H.T. and Stelinski, L.L. 2011. Constitutive and induced subterranean plant volatiles attract both entomopathogenic and plant parasitic nematodes. Journal of Ecology 99: 26-35.

Hiltpold, I., Erb, M., Robert, C.A.M. and Turlings, T.C.J. 2011.  Systemic root signalling in a belowground, volatile-mediated tritrophic interaction. Plant cell and Environment 34: 1267-1275.

Hiltpold, I., Baroni, M., Toepfer, S., Kuhlmann, U. and Turlings, T.C.J. 2010.  Selection of entomopathogenic nematodes for enhanced responsiveness to a volatile root signal helps to control a major root pest. Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 2417-2423.

Hiltpold, I., Toepfer, S., Kuhlmann, U. and Turlings, T.C.J. 2010.  How maize root volatiles affect the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes in controlling the western corn rootworm? Chemoecology. 20: 155-162.

It has been demonstrated that five different types of commercial potting media including peat, bark, coir, and peat blended with 10% and 20% compost green waste can influence the virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes against third-instar black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus.  For example, Heterorhabditis species including Heterorhabditis bacteriophora UWS1 strain, H. megidis, H. downesi can cause 100% mortality of black vine weevil grubs in all the five types of media but  Steinernema species including Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae, and S. kraussei can cause 100% black vine weevil grub mortality only in the peat blended with 20% compost green waste.  These results suggest that when growers are selecting entomopathogenic nematodes to control black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus in their nurseries/greenhouses, they should take into consideration the type of potting media used in growing their plants.

Please read following paper for the information on the method of nematode application rates and timings.

Ansari, M. A. and Butt, T. M. 2011.  Effect of potting media on the efficacy and dispersal of entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Biological Control 58: 310-318.

Ansari, M.A., Shah, F.A. and Butt, T.M. 2010.  The entomopathogenic nematodeSteinernema kraussei and Metarhizium anisopliae work synergistically in controlling overwintering larvae of the black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, in strawberry growbags. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 20: 99-105.

Entomopathogenic nematodes such as Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora have been used to control white grubs that feed turfgrass in your yard. When applied in turf these nematodes search and infect white grubs. They infect grub insects through the natural openings and once inside they release symbiotic bacteria in the body cavity of grub. Bacteria multiply and kill insect within 48 hours of infection.

It has been demonstrated that entomopathogenic nematodes can be easily delivered through desiccated insect cadavers. It has been shown that the nematodes can survive and preserve their virulence capacities in desiccated insect cadavers.  These desiccated cadavers are easy to apply and when cadavers come in contact with water or rehydrated infective juveniles will emerge out to seek new host.

Read following research papers on application of entomopathogenic nematodes through insect cadavers.

Ansari, M.A., Hussain, M. and Moens, M. 2009.  Formulation and application of entomopathogenic nematode-infected cadavers for control of Hoplia philanthus in turf grass. Pest Management Science 65: 367-374.

Creighton, C.S. and Fassuliotis, G. 1985.  Heterorhabditis sp. (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae): a nematode parasite isolated from the banded cucumber beetle Diabrotica balteata. Journal of Nematology 17: 150–153.

Del Valle, E.E., Dolinksi, C., and Souza, R.M. 2008. Dispersal of Heterorhabditis baujardi LPP7 (Nematoda : Rhabditida) applied to the soil as infected host cadavers. International Journal of Pest Management 54: 115-122.

Del Valle, E.E., Dolinksi, C., Barreto, E.L.S. and Souza, R.M. 2009.  Effect of cadaver coatings on emergence and infectivity of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis baujardi LPP7 (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and the removal of cadavers by ants. Biological Control 50: 21–24.

Del Valle, E.E., Dolinksi, C., Barreto, E.L.S., Souza, R.M. and Samuels, R.I. 2008.  Efficacy of Heterorhabditis baujardi LP77 (Nematoda: Rhabditida) applied in Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) insect cadavers to Conotrachelus psidii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae. Biocontrol Science and Technology 18: 33–41.

Perez, E.E., Lewis, E.E and Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2003.  Impact of host cadaver on survival and infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) under desiccating conditions. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 82: 111–118.

Shapiro, D.I and Lewis, E.E. 1999.  Comparison of entomopathogenic nematode infectivity from infected hosts versus aqueous suspension. Environmental Entomology 28: 907–911.

Shapiro, D.I. and Glazer, I. 1996.  Comparison of entomopathogenic nematode dispersal from infected hosts versus aqueous suspension. Environmental Entomology 25: 1455–1461.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Lewis, E.E., Behle, R.W and McGuire, M.R. 2001.  Formulation of entomopathogenic nematode-infected-cadavers. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 78: 17–23.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Lewis, E.E., Tedders, W.L. and Son, Y. 2003.  Superior efficacy observed in entomopathogenic nematodes applied in infected-host cadavers compared with application in aqueous suspension, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 83: 270–272.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Tedders, W.L. and Lewis, E.E., 2008. Application of entomopathogenic nematode-infected cadavers from hard-bodied arthropods for insect suppression. US Patent 7374,773.

Spence, K.O., Stevens, G.N., Arimoto, H., Ruiz-Vega, J., Kaya, H.K. and Lewis, E.E. 2011.  Effect of insect cadaver desiccation and soil water potential during rehydration on entomopathogenic nematode (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) production and virulence. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 106: 268-273.

It has been demonstrated that entomopathogenic nematodes are attracted to herbivore-induced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from plants when fed upon by their insect pests.   Thus these attracted nematodes can attack and kill the insects present in the vicinity of plants.

Please read following papers for more information on VOCs released by plants and nematode attraction.

Ali, J.G., Alborn, H.T. and Stelinski, L.L. 2011. Constitutive and induced subterranean plant volatiles attract both entomopathogenic and plant parasitic nematodes. Journal of Ecology 99: 26-35.

Rasmann, S., Erwin, A.C., Halitschke, R. and Agrawal, A.A. 2011. Direct and indirect root defenses of milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): trophic cascades, trade-offs and novel methods for studying subterranean herbivory.  Journal of Ecology 99: 16-25.

The lesser peachtree borer, Synanthedon pictipes is a serious pest of commercially grown peach (Prunus spp.), orchards.  It has been demonstrated that this insect pest can be controlled using entomopathogenic nematodes including Steinernema carpocapsae, S. riobrave and  Heterorhabditis spp.

Please read following article for interaction between the lesser peachtree borer and entomopathogenic nematodes.

Cottrell, T. E., Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., Horton, D. L., and Mizell, R. F., III.  2011. Laboratory virulence and orchard efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against the lesser peach tree borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae).  Journal of Economic entomology 104: 47-53.

Click following links to read about Japanese beetles and the damage caused by them to many plant species. This insect can be controlled by using entomopathogenic nematodes.

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef451.asp

http://www.landscape-america.com/problems/insects/japanese_beetle.html

http://ipm.illinois.edu/fieldcrops/insects/japanese_beetles/

http://www.turf.msu.edu/japanese-beetle

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/turf/whitegrub.html

Links to interaction between entomopathogenic nematodes and japanese beetles

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9784356

http://esa.confex.com/esa/2007/techprogram/paper_32669.htm

http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/nema508.html

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2001.html

http://esa.confex.com/esa/2008/techprogram/paper_35315.htm

It has been reported that the heterorhabditis nematodes were more virulent than steinernematid nematodes against larvae Phyllophaga bicolor (Melo et al., 2010).

Read following paper for more information.

Melo, E.L, Ortega, C.A., Gaigl, A. and Bellotti, A. 2010.  Evaluation of entomopathogenic nematodes for the management of Phyllophaga bicolor (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae). Revista Colombiana de Entomologia 36: 207-212.