Use entomopathogenic nematodes to control western corn rootworm

Ganpati Jagdale — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:38:55 +0000

Efficacies of two biological control agents including entomopathogenic fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae) and insect-parasitic nematode (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) against western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera was compared with two insecticides including Tefluthrin (synthetic pyrethroid compound) and clothianidin (neonicotinoid compound). According to Pilz et al (2009), insect-parasitic nematode, H. bacteriophora was as effective as both insecticides in reducing population of the western corn rootworm.

Reference:

Pilz, C., Keller, S., Kuhlmann, U. and Toepfer, S. 2009. Comparative efficacy assessment of fungi, nematodes and insecticides to control western corn rootworm larvae in maize. Biocontrol. 54: 671-684.

Control of the western corn rootworm with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

Ganpati Jagdale — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:26:04 +0000

It has been demonstrated that that application of an entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora can reduce the population of the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera in the field and thus reducing the damage caused by this insect pest to corn roots and preventing subsequent lodging of plants (Stefan et al., 2010).

References:

Stefan, T., Ibolya, H.Z., Ehlers, R.U., Peters, A. and Kuhlmann, U. 2010. The effect of application techniques on field-scale efficacy: can the use of entomopathogenic nematodes reduce damage by western corn rootworm larvae? Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 12: 389-402.

Use insect parasitic nematodes to manage western corn rootworms (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera)

Ganpati Jagdale — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:17:02 +0000

The western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) is a very serious pest of corn in the North America and Europe. Larvae of this insect exclusively feed on maize roots, often causing plant lodging whereas adults may reduce yields through silk feeding and interfering maize pollination. Insect-parasitic Heterorhabditid and Steinernematid nematodes have been applied for the control of D. v. virgifera larvae in the fields. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is proved to be as effective as pyrethroid insecticide, tefluthrin in reducing over 65% emergence adults of rootworms. Application of tefluthrin in combination with Steienernema carpocapsae can result in a synergistic response that can lead to increased mortality of rootworms by 24%. Also, entomopathogenic nematodes including Steinernema glaseri, Steinernema arenarium, Steinernema abassi and Heterorhabdtis bacteriophora when applied at the rate of 8-16 nematodes per cm² under laboratory condtions caused over 77% larval mortality.

For more information on corn rootworms and entomopathogenic nematode interactions, read following literature

Jackson, J.J. 1995. Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematodes for third instars of the western corn rootworm. J Nematol 27:504.

Jackson, J.J. 1996. Field performance of entomopathogenic nematodes for suppression of western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). J Econ Entomol 89:366–372.

Jackson, J.J. 1997. Field efficacy and ecology of three entomopathogenic nematodes with the western corn rootworm. J Nematol 29:586.

Jackson, J.J., Brooks, M.A. 1995. Parasitism of western corn rootworm larvae and pupae by Steinernema carpocapsae. J Nematol 27:15–20.

Journey, A.M., Ostlie, K.R. 2000. Biological control of the western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) using the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae. Environ Entomol 29:822–831.

Kurtz, B., Toepfer, S., Ehlers, R.U., Kuhlmann, U. 2007. Establishment and persistence of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. megidis, and Steinernema feltiae for controlling Diabrotica virgifera virgifera larvae in maize. J Appl Entomol 131:420–425.

Pilz, C. 2008. Biological control of the invasive maize pest Diabrotica virgifera virgifera by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. PhD thesis at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences BOKU, Vienna, 155 pp.

Pilz, C., Wegensteiner, R., Keller, S. 2007. Selection of entomopathogenic fungi for the control of the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. J Appl Entomol 131:426–431.

Pilz, C., Keller, S., Kuhlmann, U. and Toepfer, S. 2009. Comparative efficacy assessment of fungi, nematodes and insecticides to control western corn rootworm larvae in maize. Biocontrol 54: 671-684.

Pilz, C., Wegensteiner, R., Keller, S. 2008. Natural occurrence of insect pathogenic fungi and insect parasitic nematodes in Diabrotica virgifera virgifera populations. BioControl 53:353–359.

Poinar, G.O. Jr., Evans, J.S., Schuster, E. 1983. Field test of the entomogenous nematode, Neoaplectana carpocapsae, for control of corn rootworm larvae (Diabrotica sp., Coleoptera). Prot Ecol 5:337–342.

Toepfer S, Peters A, Ehlers, R.U., Kuhlmann, U. 2008. Comparative assessment of the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematode species at reducing western corn rootworm larvae and root damage in maize. J Appl Entomol 132:337–348.

Toepfer, S., Gueldenzoph, C. Ehlers, R.U. and Kuhlmann, U. 2005. Screening of entomopathogenic nematodes for virulence against the invasive western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Europe. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 95: 473- 482.

Nematode Information » Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

Use entomopathogenic nematodes to control western corn rootworm

Control of the western corn rootworm with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

Use insect parasitic nematodes to manage western corn rootworms (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera)