Environmental Entomology (1983) 12, 840-843
J.B. Beavers, C.W. McCoy and D.T. Kaplan (1983)
Natural enemies of subterranean Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae in Florida
Environmental Entomology 12 (3), 840-843
Abstract: A monthly survey of the subterranean natural enemies of Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) larvae was conducted from June 1979 through December 1980 in nine citrus groves and one ornamental nursery in central Florida. Four entomopathogenic fungi, Metarrhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Aspergillus ochraceous, and two entomogenous nematodes, Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser and Heterorhabditis sp. Poinar, were found active in the soil and infectious to D. abbreviatus larvae throughout the year. Fungus-infected larvae were most prevalent from May through July, whereas nematode parasitism was most predominant from May through November. In addition, a survey conducted in 55 citrus groves throughout Florida in August 1980 and again in February 1981 showed that 27.0 and 45.0%, respectively, had detectable populations of N. carpocapsae or Heterorhabditis sp., or both species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
