Neotropical Entomology (2005) 34, 785-790

Luís G. Leite, Laerte A. Machado, Roberto M. Goulart, Fernando M. Tavares and Antonio Batista Filho (2005)
Screening of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nemata: Rhabditida) and the efficiency of Heterorhabditis sp. against the sugarcane root spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Fabr.) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)
Neotropical Entomology 34 (5), 785-790
Abstract: The pathogenicity of six entomopathogenic nematodes was assessed against nymphs of the sugarcane root spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Fabr.), in the laboratory. The efficiency of the most virulent agent was tested in the field. Seven laboratory treatments were designed with two specimens of the genus Heterorhabditis, three of Steinernema, one specimen of Steinernema glaseri (Steiner), and a control group. In the field, two experiments were conducted. The first experiment involved nine treatments: the control, four treatments with Heterorhabditis sp. (CB-n5) applied to the straw mulch at doses 6.6 x 10⁷, 3.3 x 10⁸, 6.6 x 10⁸ and 3.3 x 10⁹ IJs/ha, and four treatments with the nematodes applied to the soil and beneath the straw mulch layer, at the same doses. The second experiment contained four treatments: the control and applications of Heterorhabditis sp. (3.3 x 10⁸ IJs/ha), the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (2.6 x 10¹² viable conidia/ha), and the chemical insecticide thiamethoxan (Actara 200 WG) (1 kg/ha). Heterorhabditis sp. (CB-n5), Steinernema sp. (CB-n6), and Heterorhabditis sp. (CCA) were the three most virulent nematodes (100%, 98%, and 96% mortality, respectively). In the first field experiment, Heterorhabditis sp. controlled 74% of the insects, with no significant difference among doses or between application to the soil or mulch. In the second experiment, the chemical insecticide provided 67% control, not differing statistically from nematode (56%) or fungus (44%) control, seven days post-treatment.
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Database assignments for author(s): Luís G. Leite

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.
	Mahanarva fimbriolata
Steinernema (genus - entomopathogens)	Mahanarva fimbriolata
Heterorhabditis (genus - entomopathogens)	Mahanarva fimbriolata