Biocontrol Science and Technology (2004) 14, 93-98

Elizabeth A.B. De Nardo, Anne B. Sindermann, Sukhbir K. Grewal and Parwinder S. Grewal (2004)
Non-susceptibility of earthworm Eisenia fetida to the rhabditid nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, a biocontrol agent of slugs
Biocontrol Science and Technology 14 (1), 93-98
Abstract: The rhabditid nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a lethal parasite for slugs that is sold commercially in Europe under the trade name Nemaslug™. We evaluated the effects of P. hermaphrodita on the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny). Adults of E. fetida were exposed in one-liter glass beakers to P. hermaphrodita at three concentrations (12, 102 and 502 of the field recommended rate of 3210⁹ billion nematodes/ha) during a 14-day period in an artificial soil substrate. The average body weight, burrowing behavior, mortality and other clinical signals of the earthworms were recorded at 0, 7, and 14 days after exposure to the treatments. In addition, injured earthworms (posterior ends removed) were exposed to the 102 field recommended rate of the commercial formulation. Neither intact nor injured E. fetida showed susceptibility to the slug-parasitic nematode P. hermaphrodita during the 14 days of exposure even at concentrations 10 and 50 times higher than the label dose. However, the worms in the attenuated control (autoclaved formulation) had higher mortality and lost less weight compared to the other treatments. Under the conditions of the test, we conclude that the use of the commercially available strain of P. hermaphrodita is safe to E. fetida.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Elizabeth. A.B. De Nardo, Parwinder S. Grewal

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (pathogen)