Archive

• Apopka weevil (Diaprepes abbreviatus): This insect was named as Apopka weevil (Snout beetles) because it was first reported from Apopka, Florida. This is also recognized as a Diaprepes root weevil and considered as a very damaging pests of Citrus, many agricultural crops and ornamental plants throughout the United States.

• Armyworm (Heliothis armigera): This insect belongs to order Lepidoptera. These insect are called armyworms because their caterpilars (larvae) accumulated in large numbers and crawl in masses across fields defoliating everything in their path. These insect have wide host range but commonly cause a serious damage to cotton, maize, tobacco and chickpeas throughout the world. All larval stages of this insect are susceptible to S. carpocapsae. Read paper entitledle “Glazer I, Klein M, Navon A, et al. 1992 Comparison of efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes combined with antidesiccants applied by canopy sprays against 3 cotton pests (lepidoptera, noctuidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 85: 1636-1641″

• Billbugs (Sphenophorus purvulus): These weevils (Snout beetles) are also called the bluegrass billbugs because they prefer to feed on Kentucky blue- grass. This insect is also a serious pest of perennial rygrass, hybrid bermudagrass, bahiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass and fine-leaf fescue. Larval stages of this insect are susceptible to S. carpocapsae
• Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus salcatus): This is a British native weevil and currently considered as the most serious garden pest, causing the most damage on evergreen trees and shrubs in the Europe and North America. All larval stages of this insect are susceptible to S. carpocapsae.
• Blue grass weevil (Listronotus maculicollis): Blue grass weevil is prevalent in the northeastern part of the US and primarily feeds on annual bluegrass. This insect has also been found to feed on perennial ryegrass and creeping bentgrass. The insect larvae feed inside the stem whereas adults feed on foliage. The damaged turf turns yellow and symptoms resemble drought stress. All larval stages of this insect are susceptible to S. carpocapsae.
• Codling moth (Cydia pomonella): Codling moth is a major pest of apples but it can also cause a serious damage to pears, walnut, crabapples, hawthorn, apricots and stone fruits. Insect larvae cause damage feeding on tissue and making tunnels in the fruits. This tunnels also serves as entry points for other disease causing organisms. All larval stages of this insect are susceptible to S. carpocapsae.
• Crane flies (Tipula spp.): The larvae of these European crane flies are called as leatherjackets. These leatherjackets generally feed on the roots and crowns. This direct damage cause yellowing and patchy appearance of turf on the golf courses and home lawns. These insects also cause serious damage to many cereals and forage crops. Larval stages of this insect are susceptible to S. carpocapsae.
• Cutworms (Agrotis ipsilon, A. segetum): The common cutworm (Agrotis segetum) and the black cutworm (A. ipsilon) are serious soil pests of many vegetable and field crops all over the world. These insects are called cutworms because their larva (caterpillar) cut off seedlings at ground level while feeding. The caterpillars are generally dark green, brown or yellow and voracious feeders of leaves, buds and stems of plants. Since theses spend most of their time in the soil environment, they are easy target of entomopathogenic nematodes. All larval stages of this insect are susceptible to S. carpocapsae.

Species of white grubs : Species of entompathogenic nematodes

1. Asiatic garden beetle (Maladera castanea): H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. scarabae
2. Black turfgrass ataenius (Ataenius spretulus): H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. scarabae
3. Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha): H. bacteriophora, H. marelata, H. megidis, S arenaria, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. riobrave
4. Cranberry root grub (Phyllophaga Georgiana): H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. scarabae
5. European chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis): H. bacteriophora, H. megidis, H. zealandica, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. scarabae
6. Grass grub beetle (Costelytra zealandica): H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri
7. Green June beetle (Cotinus nitida): H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. scarabae
8. Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica): H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. marelata, H. megidis, H. zealandica, S. anomali, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. kushidai, S. riobrave, S. scapterisci, S. scarabae
9. Masked Chafer (Cyclocephala pasadenae): H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. kushidai, S. scarabae
10. Northern Masked Chafer (Cyclocephala borealis): H. bacteriophora, H. indica, H. marelata, H. megidis, H. zealandica, S. glaseri, S. scarabae
11. Oriental beetle (Anomala orientalis): H. bacteriophora, H. megidis, H. zealandica, S. carpocapsae, S. glaseri, S. longicaudum, S. scarabae
12. Southern Masked Chafer (Cyclocephala lurida): H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. scarabae
13. Southwestern Masked Chafer (Cyclocephala hirta): H. bacteriophora, H. megidis, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. kushidai, S. riobrave, S. scarabae
14. Summer chafer (Amphimallon solstitiale): S. glaseri
15. White grub (Hoplia philanthus): H. megidis, S. feltiae, S. glaseri
16. White grub (Phyllophaga crinita): H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. scarabae
17. White grub (Phyllophaga congrua): H. bacteriophora, S. glaseri, S. scarabae

For more information on insect pathogenic nematodes read book “Nematodes As Biocontrol Agents” by Grewal, P.S. Ehlers, R.-U., Shapiro-Ilan, D. (eds.). CAB publishing, CAB International, Oxon.