Glazer, I., Dept. of Nematology, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Gol’berg, A., Dept. of Entomology, ARO, Gilat Experiment Station, Negev Post, 85410, Israel
 

The potential use of steinernematid and heterorhabditid nematodes against the beetle Maladera matrida Argaman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) was determined under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Infective juveniles (IJ’s) of the nematode Heterorhabditis sp., Hp88 strain, mixed with soil at a concentration as low as 50 IJ’s/cm3 soil, resulted in 86% control. No increase in control was obtained with higher nematode concentrations. Soil surface application of the nematodes at concentrations of 160 and 640 IJ’s/cm2 was sufficient to obtain 87% and 86% mortality, respectively, even at a depth of 40 cm below the soil surface. The Heterorhabditis sp. Hp88 strain was found to be the most pathogenic to the beetle grubs at 25°C. Lower control levels of 30-47% were achieved by Heterorhabditis sp. HL81 strain, S. feltiae ‘All’ strain and 5. bibionis CR strain. The nematode Heterorhabditis sp. BS strain did not have any effect on insect mortality. However, at a temperature of 16°C, the HL81 strain of Heterorhabditis sp. was the most effective. Grubs 3-5 wk old were found to be the most susceptible developmental stage of infection of Heterorhabditis sp. Hp88 strain. Pupae, which were exposed to the nematodes in the same experimental regime, were not affected. The results obtained in the present study suggest that M. matrida is an attractive candidate for biological control by entomoparasitic nematodes. © 1989, Springer Science + Business Media B.V.. All rights reserved.