Environmental Entomology (1995) 24, 762-769

B. Nicolas, N.D. Epsky and J.L. Capinera (1995)
Susceptibility of Melanoplus sanguinipes (Orthoptera: Acrididae) nymphs to Steinernema carpocapsae and S. scapterisci (Nematoda: Steinernematidae)
Environmental Entomology 24 (3), 762-769
Abstract: Infective juveniles of Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser and Steinernema scapterisci Nguyen and Smart infected nymphal grasshoppers under petri dish and simulated field conditions. S. carpocapsae caused higher mortality and was more infective (number of nematodes gaining entry to host) than S. scapterisci. Rate of mortality did not vary significantly among the nymphal instars, but nematodes were more infective in larger nymphs. For hatching grasshoppers digging to the soil surface, mortality and infectivity were positively correlated with soil moisture levels. Pathogenicity was especially enhanced by high-humidity at the soil surface. Three sandy soils were also evaluated for effect on mortality and infectivity, but the influence of soil type, while significant, was small relative to soil moisture.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): John L. Capinera, Nancy D. Epsky

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Melanoplus sanguinipes
Steinernema carpocapsae/Xenorhabdus nematophila (entomopathogen)	Melanoplus sanguinipes
Steinernema scapterisci/Xenorhabdus innexi (entomopathogen)	Melanoplus sanguinipes