Biocontrol Science and Technology (2002) 12, 225-233

Ignacio Armendáriz, Martin J. Downes and Christine T. Griffin (2002)
Effect of timber condition on parasitization of pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) larvae by entomopathogenic nematodes under laboratory conditions
Biocontrol Science and Technology 12 (2), 225-233
Abstract: The large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) is one of the most important pests in coniferous reforestation in Europe. Larvae develop in the stumps of recently felled trees; the emerging adults feed on the bark of seedlings and may kill them. The ability of the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis megidis and Steinernema carpocapsae to invade pine weevil larvae in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) buried in moist sand was evaluated. Overall, four times as many H. megidis as S. carpocapsae invaded pine weevil larvae. The two species of nematode differed in their response to timber condition. The number of S. carpocapsae invading pine weevil larvae was twice as high in billets inoculated with the wood-rotting fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea as in fresh timber, while the number of H. megidis invading was reduced by 25%. Invasion into non-feeding insects (larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella) contained in timber disks was also affected by timber quality, indicating that nematode behaviour was affected directly by the physical or chemical condition of the timber, though trophically mediated effects may also have been involved.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Christine T. Griffin

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hylobius abietis	Spruce (Picea)
Steinernema carpocapsae/Xenorhabdus nematophila (entomopathogen)	Hylobius abietis	Spruce (Picea)
Heterorhabditis megidis/Photorhabdus temperata (entomopathogen)	Hylobius abietis	Spruce (Picea)