Florida Entomologist (2012) 95, 922-927
David I. Shapiro-Ilan and Russell F. Mizell III (2012)
Laboratory virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes to two ornamental plant pests, Corythucha ciliata (Hemiptera: Tingidae) and Stethobaris nemesis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Florida Entomologist 95 (4), 922-927
Abstract: Ornamental flowers, shrubs and trees are economically important commodities in the US and around the globe. In this study we evaluated the potential of entomopathogenic nematodes to control two important ornamental pests: 1) Corythucha ciliata (Say) (Hemiptera: Tingidae), a native lace bug that attacks the foliage of sycamore trees, and 2) the recently described exotic pest, Stethobaris nemesis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a weevil that attacks amaryllis leaves and bulbs. In the laboratory, the virulence of six entomopathogenic nematode strains (comprising five species) was evaluated on sycamore leaf discs for potential to control C. ciliata, and four nematode species were evaluated for control of S. nemesis. Heterorhabditis indica (HOM1) exhibited higher virulence to C. ciliata than H. bacteriophora (Baine and Oswego strains), H. georgiana (Kesha), and Steinernema riobrave (355); S. carpocapsae (All) virulence was not statistically separated from the other nematodes with the exception of H. bacteriophora (Oswego) (which exhibited the lowest virulence). Additionally, among the six nematodes tested, H. indica (HOM1) produced the highest level of infective juveniles in C. ciliata. Steinernema carpocapsae (All) exhibited the highest virulence to control S. nemesis (in well-plates containing soil), yet both S. carpocapsae (All) and S. feltiae (SN) exhibited high virulence after only 1d post-treatment. The other nematodes tested for S. nemesis suppression, H. bacteriophora (Hb) and H. indica (HOM1), also showed high levels of virulence particularly at 3 d post-treatment. Our results indicate that several entomopathogenic nematodes offer potential for control of C. ciliata and S. nemesis and thus additional research, e.g., field studies, is warranted.
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Database assignments for author(s): David I. Shapiro-Ilan, Russell F. Mizell III
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection
