Beneficial nematodes aren’t all the same. Learn how Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema feltiae, and Steinernema riobrave differ in behavior, target pests, and symbiotic bacteria.
Read MoreBiologocal control of insect pests
The Best BioControl Agent for Peach Curcilio: Steinernema riobrave /
Peach curculio larvae damage roots underground, weakening peach trees. Discover how Steinernema riobrave nematodes provide effective biological control.
Read MoreThe Most Serious Lawn and Garden Threat: Japanese Beetles /
Japanese beetles damage lawns and plants from above and below ground. Learn which beneficial nematode species control grubs and the best time to apply them for better results.
Read MoreHeterorhabditis indica: The Natural Ally Against Small Hive Beetles /
Beneficial Heterorhabditis indica nematodes target and kill small hive beetle pupae in the soil, providing fast, natural, and safe control for your apiary. Ideal for organic and treatment-free beekeepers looking to protect colonies without chemicals
Read MoreControlling Japanese Beetles with Entomopathogenic Nematodes /
Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are among the most destructive garden pests in North America, devouring leaves, flowers, and fruit of over 300 plant species (Photo 1 and 2). But the damage starts even before you notice it below the surface, their white grubs feed on the roots of grasses (Photo 3) and plants, causing brown patches in lawns and weakened ornamental plants. While chemical treatments are available, many gardeners and landscape professionals are turning to a safer, more natural method of control: entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
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 MoreA New Beneficial Nematode, Steinernema tophus from South Africa /
A new beneficial nematode identified as Steinernema tophus was collected from a vineyard located in Clanwilliam, South Africa.
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 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 MoreStorage 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 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.
Read MoreBeneficial nematodes for control of termite Reticulitermes flavipes /
Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes are the most destructive and economically important pest of wood industry. Current research shows that the entomopathogenic nematodes also called beneficial nematodes have a potential to use as environmentally safe biological control agents against termites.
Read MoreDiscovery of parasitic wasps of Sawyer beetles, Monochamus species /
Parasitic wasps and Sawyer beetles, Monochamus species Pine wilt disease is caused by the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), which is primarily vectored by Sawyer beetles, Monochamus spp.
Read MoreEfficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against cigarette beetles /
Entomopathogenic nematodes and cigarette beetles
Cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne is an economically important pest of stored tobacco but it can also cause damage to different cereal grains, oilseeds, flour and different kinds of dry fruits. A laboratory study showed that the entomopathogenic nematodes including Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Heterorhabditis megidis, Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema feltiae have a potential to use as biological agents against cigarette beetles, L. serricorne (Rumbos and Athanassiou, 2012).
Steinernema feltiae attracts to cues from slugs /
Scavenging and entomopathogenic nematodes
It has been demonstrated that an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae that only infect and kill their insect host but it can also be attracted to the cues released from the slug cadavers suggesting that entomopathogenic nematodes can feed on carcasses of other organisms (Nermut et al., 2012).
Read following literature on scavenging behavior and entomopathogenic nematodes
Baur, M.E., Kaya, H.K. and Strong, D.R. 1998. Foraging ants as scavengers on entomopathogenic nematode-killed insects. Biological Control 12: 231-236.
Foltan, P. and Puza, V. 2009. To complete their life cycle, pathogenic nematode-bacteria complexes deter scavengers from feeding on their host cadaver. Behavioural Processes 80: 76-79.
Nermut, J., Puza, V. and Mracek, Z. 2012. The response of Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) and Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) to different host-associated cues. Biological Control 61: 201-206.
Puza, V. and Mracek, Z. 2010. Does scavenging extend the host range of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Steinernematidae)? Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 104: 1-3
San-Blas, E. and Gowen, S.R. 2008. Facultative scavenging as a survival strategy of entomopathogenic nematodes. International Journal for Parasitology 38: 85-91.
San-Blas, E. and Gowen, S.R. and Pembroke, B. 2008. Scavenging or infection? Possible host choosing by entomopathogenic nematodes. Nematology 10: 251-259.
Biological control of turfgrass cutworms /
Cutworms are foliage feeding pest of turfgrass. Moths of turfgrass cutworms emerge from overwintering pupae early in the spring and after mating they start laying about 1000-1200 eggs at tip of grass blades.
Read MoreControl white grub with beneficial nematodes-Nematode information /
Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against white grub, Holotrichia longipennis Today, I read a paper published in Journal of Pest Science by Khatri-Chhetri et al. (2011), who tested the efficacy of two newly isolated entomopathogenic nematode species from Nepal against white grub, Holotrichia longipennis. This white grub is a very serious pest of many crops including black gram, cabbage, chilies, maize, millet, paddy soybean and tomato.
Read MoreEntomopathogenic nematodes for the control of wireworm, Agriotes lineatus /
Entomopathogenic nematodes and Wireworms, Agriotes lineatus- Nematode Information Wireworm, Agriotes lineatus cause a tremendous loss to potato yields throughout the world. As biological control agent, entomopathogenic nematodes can serve as a safe alternative to chemical pesticides in managing wireworms and helping to increase potato yields. It has been shown that the entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora can cause over 67% mortality of wireworm, Agriotes lineatus within three weeks of application (Ansari et al., 2009).
Literature
Ansari, M.A., Evans, M. and Butt, T.M. 2009. Identification of pathogenic strains of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi for wireworm control. Crop Protection 28: 269-272.
Control sugarcane billbug, Sphenophorus levis with beneficial nematodes /
Entomopathogenic nematodes and the sugarcane billbug, Sphenophorus levis- Nematode Information Sugarcane is grown as an important cash crop in many countries but insect pests like the sugarcane billbug, Sphenophorus levis can cause a tremendous yield loss to this crop. Entomopathogenic nematodes have a great potential to use as a biological control agent against the sugarcane bill bugs. Recently, Giometti et al. (2011) reported that entomopathogenic nematodes including Steinernema brazilense strain IBCB n6 and three strains of Heterorhabditis sp. (IBCB n10, IBCB n24 and IBCB n44) were highly virulent causing over 60% mortality of adults of the sugarcane billbug. Sphenophorus levis.
Publications:
Giometti, FHC, Leite, LG., Tavares, FM., Schmit, F.S., Batista, A. and Dell'Acqua, R. 2011. Virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida) against Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Bragantia 70: 81-86.