Biocontrol Science and Technology (2001) 11, 515-525
L. Ebssa, C. Borgemeister, O. Berndt and H.-M. Poehling (2001)
Impact of entomopathogenic nematodes on different soil-dwelling stages of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in the laboratory and under semi-field conditions
Biocontrol Science and Technology 11 (4), 515-525
Abstract: The impact of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) on mortality of soil-dwelling stages of western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with different insect stage combinations was studied in the laboratory and under semi-field conditions. In laboratory experiments, the efficacy of Steinernema feltiae strain Sylt (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) at a concentration of 400 infective juveniles (IJs) cm-2 was tested against different proportions of soil-dwelling stages of WFT, i.e. late second instar larvae (L2), prepupae and pupae. Soil was used as the testing medium. S. feltiae significantly affected the mortality of all soil-dwelling life stages of WFT at all tested insect stage combinations. The proportion of late L2 in the population negatively correlated to EPN-induced mortality. WFT prepupa and pupa were similarly susceptible to S. feltiae and their proportion in the population did not affect the EPN-induced mortality under laboratory conditions. The highest mortality (80%) was recorded when the population consisted only of prepupae and/or pupae. In the semi-field study, the impact of S. feltiae, S. carpocapsae strain DD136 and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora strain HK3 (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) (H. bacteriophora) at concentrations of 400 and 1000 IJs cm-2 was evaluated against WFT reared on green beans, Phaseolus vulgaris L., as host plant in pot experiments in a controlled climate chamber. All tested EPN strains at both dose rates significantly reduced the WFT populations. Up to 70% reduction of the WFT population was obtained at the higher EPN concentration.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Christian Borgemeister, Hans-Michael Poehling, Lemma Ebssa
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection
