International Journal of Nematology (2006) 16, 13-18

Mona A. Hussein, Nabil El-Wakeil and Talaat El-Sebai (2006)
Susceptibility of melon fruit fly, Dacus ciliatus, to entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida) and to insecticides
International Journal of Nematology 16 (1), 13-18
Abstract: The efficiency of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and chemical insecticides against melon fruit flies Dacus ciliatus (Loew) infecting cucurbits in Egypt was evaluated. Five specie of EPN (2 species of Steinernema and 3 of Heterorhabditis) and two insecticides were screened. In general, the data indicated that Steinernema feltiae (NC) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (BAI) were the most effective species against larvae and pupae compared with S. abbasi, H. bacteriophora (HB) and H. indica (SAA2), either on filter paper or in sandy soil. One day after treatment, S. feltiae caused 50% mortality of 2nd instar larvae of D. ciliatus and 20 to 40% mortality to other tested EPN species. Mortality percentages reached 100% for all species 3 days after application with 1000 IJs/ml, while the mortality recorded 90% for S. feltiae at rate 500 IJs/ml and 70% to 80% for the other species. At the 7th day prior to application of EPN, mortality reached 100% for all species at the two concentrations. The data showed that S. feltiae was the most effective nematode species to control the melon fruit, followed by H. bacteriophora (BA1 and HB); S. abbasi (ABB) and H. indica (SAA2). Two chemical insecticides (profenofos and pirimiphos-methyl) were used against the cucurbit fruit flies. Both tested insecticides caused high mortality in comparison to EPN, however, the latter is the more preferable mainly due to its safety to the environment.
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Database assignments for author(s): Mona A. Hussein, Nabil E. El-Wakeil

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
control - general
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.
	Dacus ciliatus		Egypt
Steinernema feltiae/Xenorhabdus bovienii (entomopathogen)	Dacus ciliatus		Egypt
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora/Photorhabdus (entomopathogen)	Dacus ciliatus		Egypt