Evaluation of entomopathogenic nematodes for suppression of carrot weevil

Authors: Miklasiewicz T.J.¹; Grewal P.S.²; Hoy C.W.¹; Malik V.S.³

Source: BioControl, Volume 47, Number 5, October 2002 , pp. 545-561(17)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

The potential of entomopathogenic nematodes as biological control agents for carrot weevil (Listronotus oregonensis) was evaluated through both laboratory and field experiments. In the laboratory, Steinernema carpocapsae, S. riobrave, S. feltiae, Heterorhabditis megidis, H. bacteriophora, and a control (water only) were compared in sand and muck soil against adults, and in sand against larvae. All nematode species produced high levels of larval mortality. S. carpocapsae produced significantly greater adult mortality in sand than other species or the untreated control. H. bacteriophora caused low adult mortality in sand, but the greatest adult mortality among treatments in a similar test that used muck soil; S. carpocapsae was ranked second on muck soil. Other species consistently produced intermediate (H. megidis and S. riobrave) or low (S. feltiae) levels of mortality on both substrates. In the field, we compared the effect of early season vs. late season applications of H. bacteriophora or S. carpocapsae on carrot weevil mortality and parsley survival and yield. Significant differences among treatments in plant survival and yield were not found; however treatments involving H. bacteriophora had higher plant survival than other treatments. Earlier application of this species was associated with higher plant survival. S. carpocapsaetreatments had similar plant survival to the control. Mortality of larvae and combined stages of carrot weevil was significantly greater at 1 week following H. bacteriophora application than for other treatments. H. bacteriophora also showed greater persistence than S. carpocapsaein treated plots. We conclude that H. bacteriophora is a good candidate for further evaluation as a biological control agent against carrot weevil on muck soils in the Great Lakes region.

Keywords: Curculionidae; Heterorhabditis bacteriophora; Heterorhabditis megidis; Listronotus oregonensis; muck soil; Steinernema carpocapsae; Steinernema feltiae; Steinernema riobrave; vegetable pest management

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Entomology, Ohio State University/OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691-4096, USA 2: Department of Entomology, Ohio State University/OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691-4096, USA (author for correspondence; e-mail: grewal.4@osu.edu) 3: Department of Entomology, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, Haryana, India

Publication date: 2002-10-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Anatomy & Physiology ,  Zoology ,  Entomology
• By this author: Miklasiewicz T.J. ;  Grewal P.S. ;  Hoy C.W. ;  Malik V.S.

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