• A warm-adapted entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema siamkayai Tiruchirappalli strain can cause 45-100% larval mortality of various insect species including Galleria mellonella, Spodoptera exigua, Ceratitis capitata, Cydia splendana and Tenebrio molitor when tested under laboratory conditions at temperatures between 15- 37C (Raja et al., 2011).
• Wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae are pests of honeycomb but are widely used as a model organism for laboratory study and in vivo production of entomopathogenic nematodes.
• Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) is a noxious pest of many crops including beets, asparagus, beans, different Cole crops, potatoes, tomatoes, sorghum, cotton and different oilseed.  Larvae of beet armyworm feed voraciously on leaves and are known for complete defoliation of plant.
• Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is economically important pests of many fruit crops including citrus, peach, pear and apple. Fruit fly larvae feed inside the fruits and makes fruits unattractive for eating.
• Acorn moth (Cydia splendana) larvae mainly cause damage to oak and chestnuts.
• Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae are commonly used as feed for many pet animals such as fish, reptiles and birds. These larvae are also used to study and in vivo production of entomopathogenic nematodes.

Publications on Steinernema siamkayai

1. Adiroubane, D., Tamilselvi, R. and Ramesh, V.  2010. Efficacy of Steinernema siamkayai against certain crop pests. Journal of Biopesticides 3: 180 – 185.
2. Khatri-Chhetri, H.B., Waeyenberge, L., Manandhar, H.K. and Moens, M. 2010.  Natural occurrence and distribution of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) in Nepal. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 103: 74-78.
3. Raja, R.K., Sivaramakrishnan, S. and Hazir, S. 2011.   Ecological characterisation of Steinernema siamkayai (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a warm-adapted entomopathogenic nematode isolate from India. Biocontrol 56: 789-798.
4. Stock, S.P., Somsook, V. and Reid, A.P. 1998. Steinernema siamkayai n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), an entomopathogenic nematode from Thailand. Systematic Parasitology 41: 105-113.

Peachtree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa: This borer is most economically important pest of stone fruit trees in North America. Shapiro-Ilan et al. (2009) studied the effect of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae on population of peachtree borer, S. exitiosa in the peach orchard. These researchers applied S. carpocapsae at the rate of 150,000–300,000 infective juveniles/tree during egg laying seasons of borers and reported that these nematodes were as effective as chemical insecticide, chlorpyrifos in preventing damage caused by borers to peach trees.

Peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata: Soliman (2007) studied the efficacy of two entomopathogenin nematode species, Steinernema riobrave and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora against the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata and reported that all the larval stages of this fly were susceptible to both nematode species under laboratory conditions. However, H. bacteriophora was comparatively more efficacious than S. riobrave against all the larval stages of peach fruit fly. Larvae of peach fruit fly are also susceptible to another species of entomopathogenic nematode, S. carpocapsae (Soliman, 2007).

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata: Soliman (2007) studied the efficacy of two entomopathogenin nematode species, Steinernema riobrave and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Malan and Manrakhan, 2009) against Ceratitis capitata and reported that all the larval stages of this fly were susceptible to both nematode species under laboratory conditions. However, H. bacteriophora was comparatively more efficacious than S. riobrave against all the larval stages of C. capitata. These fruit flies are also susceptible to another species of entomopathogenic nematode, S. carpocapsae (Soliman, 2007).

Mediterranean flatheaded rootborer, Capnodis tenebrionis: The efficacy of four entomopathogenic nematode species including Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema affine, Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora was studied against Mediterranean flatheaded rootborer infesting potted peach trees (Morton and del Pino, 2008). It has been demonstrated that all the four species of entomopthogenic nematodes have an ability to locate and kill larvae of C. tenebrionis after their entry into the peach roots. Morton and del Pino (2008) reported that strains of S. feltiae caused highest mortality of C. tenebrionis larvae (80% to 88%) followed by strains of H. bacteriophora (72 to76%), S. carpocapsae (62%) and S. affine (35%).

Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar: Shapiro-Ilan et al. (2004; 2008) demonstrated that the application of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema riobrave at concentration of 100 infective juveniles/ cm2 can achieve over 78% control of plum curculio in peach orchards. Shapiro-Ilan et al. (2002) also reported that adults of C. nenuphar are more susceptible to S. riobrave or S. carpocapsae than to S. feltiae. In contrast, larvae of C. nenuphar are more susceptible to S. riobrave or S. feltiae than to S. carpocapsae.

Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta: According to Riga et al. (2006), four entomopathogenic nematode species including Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. riobrave and Heterorhabditis marelatus when applied at the concentration of 10 infective juveniles/ square cm can cause 63, 88, 76 and 67 mortality of oriental fruit moth, respectively in the laboratory.

Lesser peach tree borer, Synanthedon pictipes: Shapiro-Ilan and Cottrell (2006) reported that Steinernematid nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae, and S. riobrave) were virulent against lesser peach tree borers than Heterorhabditid nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. indica and H. inarelatus) under laboratory conditions.

For more information, read following literature on interaction between entomopathogenic nematodes and insect pests of peaches.

Barbosa-Negrisoli, C. R. C., Garcia, M. S., Dolinski, C., Negrisoli, A. S., Jr., Bernardi, D., Nava, D. 2009. Efficacy of indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae), from Rio Grande do Sul Brazil, against Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in peach orchards. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 102: 6-13.

Malan, A. P. and Manrakhan, A. 2009. Susceptibility of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and the Natal fruit fly (Ceratitis rosa) to entomopathogenic nematodes. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 100: 47-49.

Morton, A., del Pino, F. G. 2008. Effectiveness of different species of entomopathogenic nematodes for biocontrol of the Mediterranean flatheaded rootborer, Capnodis tenebrionis (Linné) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in potted peach tree. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 97: 128-133

Riga, E., Lacey, L. A., Guerra, N., Headrick, H. L. 2006. Control of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta using entomopathogenic nematodes in laboratory and fruit bin assays. Journal of Nematology 38: 168-171.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Cottrell, T.E., Mizell, R.F., Horton, D.L., Davis, J. 2009. A novel approach to biological control with entomopathogenic nematodes: Prophylactic control of the peachtree borer, Synanthedon exitiosa. Biological Control. 48: 259-263.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Mizell, R.F., Cottrell, T.E., Horton, D.L. 2008. Control of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar with entomopathogenic nematodes: Effects of application timing, alternate host plant, and nematode strain. Biological Control. 44: 207-215.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Mizell, R.F. and Campbell, J.F. 2002. Susceptibility of the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar to entomopathogenic nematodes. Journal of Nematology 34: 246.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., Mizell, R.F., Cottrell, T.E and Horton, D.L. 2004. Measuring field efficacy of Steinernema feltiae and Steinernema riobrave for suppression of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar larvae. Biological Control 30: 496–503.

Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. and Cottrell, T.E. 2006. Susceptibility of the lesser peachtree borer (Lepidoptera : Sesiidae) to entomopathogenic nematodes under laboratory conditions. Environmental Entomology. 35: 358-365.

Soliman, N. A. 2007. Efficacy of the entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema riobravis Cabanillas and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (native strain) against the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest control. 17: 77-82.

Soliman, N. A. 2007. Pathogenicity of three entomopathogenic nematodes to the Peach fruit fly, Bacterocera zonata (Saunders) and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera : Tephritidae). Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest control. 17: 121-124.