Susceptibility of Meligethes spp. and Dasyneura brassicae to entomopathogenic nematodes during pupation in soil

Authors: Nielsen, Otto¹; Philipsen, Holger²

Source: BioControl, Volume 50, Number 4, August 2005 , pp. 623-634(12)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The susceptibility of pupating larvae of pollen beetles, Meligethes spp. Stephens (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and brassica pod midges, Dasyneura brassicae Winnertz (Diptera: Cecidomyidae) to entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida) was studied in the laboratory. The results showed that brassica pod midge larvae were almost unaffected by the tested nematodes (Steinernema bicornutum, S. feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) whereas successful pupation of pollen beetle larvae was reduced with increasing number of nematodes (S. bicornutum, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora). The exposed larvae had been collected in the field and some of the pollen beetle larvae were parasitised by parasitoid wasps. It appeared that parasitised larvae were less affected by nematodes than non-parasitised larvae.

Keywords: Coleoptera; Dasyneura brassicae; Diptera; Entomopathogenic nematodes; Heterorhabditis bacteriophora; Meligethes spp; Steinernema bicornutum; S. carpocapsae; S. feltiae

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10526-004-8298-9

Affiliations: 1: Zoology Section, Department of Ecology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark, 2: Zoology Section, Department of Ecology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark, Email: hp@kvl.dk

Publication date: 2005-08-01