Greenhouse whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and the sweet potato whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) pose a significant threat to greenhouse and field vegetables. Beneficial nematodes like Steinernema feltiae are microscopic roundworms used for biological control of various insect pests including whiteflies.
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A Report of Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema sangi from Mizoram /
Based on both the morphological and molecular characteristics, the entomopathogenic nematodes collected from different parts of the Mizoram were conspecific to Steinernema sangi.
Read MoreA new species of entomopathogenic nematode from Poland /
A new species of entomopathogenic nematode named Steinernema sandneri has been recently reported from Poland.
Read MoreControl of Shore Fly with Steinernema carpocapsae Nematodes /
Beneficial entomopathogenic Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes are currently used as excellent biocontrol agents for the control of shore flies.
Read MoreCombating of fall armyworms with beneficial Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes /
How Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes will kill the fall armyworms?
When Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes are applied to the pasture fields, they will actively search for all the soil-dwelling larval and pupal stages of fall armyworms. After locating larva or pupa, nematodes will enter into their body cavity through the natural openings like anus, mouth and spiracles. In the body cavity, nematodes will release symbiotic bacteria (Xenorhabdus nematophila) in the blood where bacteria will multiply quickly, cause septicemia and kill both larva and pupa within 48 hours of infection. Thus the killing of both larvae and pupae completely stops the emergence of next generation of adult fall armyworms.
Read MoreKill fall armyworms now and stop their northward migration during spring /
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda is one of the most economically important pests of different plant species including corn, sorghum, forage, and turf grasses. Although fall armyworm larvae actively damage crops throughout the United States during growing season, they generally die when harsh winter begins in northern, central and eastern United States. Then question arises how they could re-infest fields and cause damage to the crops grown in these areas during spring and summer again.
Read MoreFour beneficial nematodes from Portugal /
Four beneficial nematodes including Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema intermedium and Steinernema kraussei have been reported from Portugal.
Read MorePrevent corn damage from western corn rootworms /
Prevent corn damage from The western corn rootworms (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) using beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes.
Read MoreBeneficial Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes for sod webworm control /
Beneficial Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes have a potential to control tropical sod webworm, Herpetogramma phaeopteralis, one of the most damaging pests of turfgrass. Sod worms are lepidopterous insects that cause a serious damage to turfgrasses that are grown in the athletic fields, golf courses, home lawns and recreational parks. Adult moths do not cause any type of damage to turfgrass but their larval stages feed on turfgrass and reduce its aesthetic value.
Read MoreThree beneficial nematodes for Queensland fruit fly control /
Three beneficial nematodes including Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema feltiae have a potential to use as a biological control agents to manage populations of Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, which is one of the most economically important insect pest of many fruit crops.
Read MoreTwo beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes for cucurbit fly control /
Two beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes including Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Fig.1) and Steinernema carpocapsae (Fig. 2) have showed a potential to control cucurbit flies, Dacus ciliatus (Kamali et al., 2013). These nematodes are considered as beneficial nematodes because they have been used as biological control agents to control insects that are damaging to crops and harmful to animals
Read MoreBiological control of the peanut burrower bug, Pangaeus bilineatus /
The peanut burrower bugs are true bugs because they belong to an insect family Cydnidae in the order, Hemiptera. The peanut burrower bugs are scientifically known as Pangaeus bilineatus and considered as one of the major insects pests of peanuts in the peanut, Arachis hypogaea producing States in the U.S. (Lis et al. 2000) .
Read MoreAntibiotics from entomopathogenic bacteria Xenorhabdus cabanillasii /
Entomopathogenic Steinernema riobrave is a warm adapted nematode species that uses an intermediate foraging strategy that lie between the ambush “sit and wait” strategy and cruise strategy to find and infect its both the mobile/sedentary insects at the soil surface or immobile stages deep in the soil and after infection, it uses its symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus cabanillasii (Tailliez et al., 2006) to kill insect hosts.
Read MoreSteinernema feltiae for Codling Moth Control in the October /
The codling moth, Cydia pomonella is one of the most damaging pets of apples, pears and walnuts. Adult moths are gray in color with dark brown band at the tip of wings. Larvae are white in color with dark brown head. Only larvae of codling moth cause damage to fruits and adults do not cause any damage to either apple or pear fruits or trees.
Read MoreSeven Beneficial Entomopathogenic Nematodes for Chive Gnat Control /
Seven beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes including Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. indica, H. megidis, Steinernema ceratophorum, S. feltiae, S. hebeiense and S. litorale have been tested against Chive gnat, Bradysia odoriphaga. This insect pest is one of the most damaging pests of Chinese chive, Allium tuberosum.
Read MoreTwo biological agents for the control of strawberry root weevils /
Strawberry root weevils [Otiorhynchus ovatus] are one of the most important insect pests of strawberry crop. Adults of strawberry root weevil feed on the edges of strawberry leaves [leaf notching] but this damage is not considered as economically important like the damage caused by their larval stages to strawberry roots [root pruning].
Read MoreSeven reasons to use beneficial nematodes as safer alternatives to pesticides /
Why beneficial nematodes are safer alternatives to pesticides- Nematodeinformation
To control insect pests in your organic garden, beneficial entomopathogenic nematodes are safer alternatives to chemical insecticides because.......
- Beneficial nematodes and their symbiotic bacterium have no detrimental effects on animals and plants.
- Both nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria do not cause any harm to the personnel involved in their production and application.
- Entomopathogenic nematode treated agriculture products are safe to handle and eat.
- Entomopathogenic nematodes and symbiotic bacteria do not have any pathogenic effects on humans or animals.
- When applied in the soil, entomopathogenic nematodes have also no negative effect on beneficial nematodes (bacteriovore, fungivore, omnivore and predatory) and other microbial communities.
- Entomopathogenic nematodes are also not harmful to the economically important beneficial insects such as honeybees.
- Finally, entomopathogenic nematodes are non-polluting and thus environmentally safe.
Storage temperature can influence beneficial nematode activity /
Several different species of white grubs including Anomala orientalis, Ataenius spretulus, Blitopertha orientalis, Cotinus nitida, Cyclocephala borealis, Cyclocephala pasadenae, Cyclocephala hirta, Exomala orientalis, Hoplia philanthus, Maladera castanea, Melolontha melolontha, Phyllophaga Spp. and Rhizotrogus majalis are major pests of turf grass.
Read MoreThree beneficial natural enemies for crane fly Tipula paludosa control /
Crane flies Tipula paludosa are one of important pests of turfgrass. Only larval stages (Fig. 1) of crane fly cause damage to turfgrass. Crane fly adults are harmless to plants (Fig. 2). Crane fly larvae mainly feed on turfgrass roots and crowns but some time they can also feed on the turfgrass foliage. The main symptom of crane fly damage that you will notice is the bare patches of dead turf in your lawn or golf courses.
Read MoreEntomopathogenic nematodes can even infect and kill citrus mealybugs /
Citrus mealybug Planococcus citri is a serious insect pest of many greenhouse plants as well as fruit crops in the field. There are different biological, chemical and cultural approaches available for the management of citrus mealybugs.
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