Authors :
Nona Mikaia; Irina Khelisupali; Zaira Tkhebuchava; Nana Zubashvili; Tamara Narimanishvili
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 12 - December
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/3pft6365
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/ytb6e58e
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14557610
Abstract :
This study evaluates virulence of Steinernema
carpocapsae and a locally isolated Steinernema strain
against Melolontha melolontha larvae, as a significant
agricultural pest. Comparative bioassays were conducted
to determine mortality rates, lethal concentration (LC50),
and lethal time (LT50) under controlled conditions.
Results indicate that both nematode strains effectively
infect and kill the larvae, with significant differences in
efficacy depending on nematode concentration and larval
instar stage. The findings support the potential use of
local Steinernema strains for sustainable pest
management. In laboratory conditions, the effectiveness
of pathogenic nematodes from the genus Steinernema was
evaluated for controlling harmful insects. The experiment
included the commercial strain Steinernema carpocapsae
and a local species, Steinernema spp.. The study was
conducted at temperatures of 25°C and 30°C, using two
concentrations of nematode suspensions: 2500 and 3000
infective juveniles (IJs) per 1 ml of water. The findings
revealed that the effective concentration against the May
beetle (Melolontha melolontha) should be at least 2500
nematodes per 1 ml of water, with an optimal
temperature of 25°C. Based on insect mortality rates and
temperature indices, it was confirmed that both
Steinernema carpocapsae (commercial strain) and the
local Steinernema spp. exhibit high pathogenicity.
Therefore, their application against the pest Melolontha
melolontha is well-justified.
Keywords :
Steinernema carpocapsae, Melolontha melolontha, Biological Control, Temperature. Concentration of Nematode Suspension.
References :
- Abbott W.S.(1925) A method for computing the effectiveness of an insecticide. Journal of Economic Entomology. 18:265-267.
- Berner, M., Schnetter, W. (2001). Wirksamkeit entomopathogener Nematodes gegen Engerlinge der Maikäfer Melolontha melolontha und M. hippocastani. Mitt. Dtsch. Ges. Allg. angew. Entomol. 13: 165-167.
- Burnell A.M., Stock S.P. (2000). Heterorhabditis, Steinernema and their bacterial symbionts – lethal pathogens of insects. Nematology 2: 31-42. Cappaert, D.C., Koppenhöfer, A.M. 2003. Steinernema scarabaei, an entomopathogenic nematode for control of the European chafer. Biol. Control 28: 379-386.
- Grewal, P.S., Power, K.T., Grewal, S.K., Suggars, A., Haupricht, S. (2004). Enhanced consistency in biological control of white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with new strains of entomopathogenic nematodes. Biol. Control 30: 73-82.
- Deseö, K.V., Bartocci, R., Tartaglia, A., Rovesti, L. (1990). Entomopathogeneous nematodes for control of scarab larvae. IOBC/wprs Bull. 14: 57-58.
- Kaya H.K. (1990). Soil ecology. In: Gaugler R and Kaya HK (eds.) Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Biological Control. CRC Press, Florida: 93-115.
- Kaya H. K.,Stock S.P.(1997) Technique in Insect Nematology. In: Lacey, [Ed.] Manual of Techniques in Insect Pathology. Academic Press Ltd, New York, pp. 281-324.
- Koppenhofer A.M .(2000) Nematodes. In: L.A. Lacey@ H.K.Kaya [Eds.]. Field Manual of Techniques in Invertebrate Pathology. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 283-301.
- Lakatos, T., Tóth, T. (2006). Biological control of European cockchafer larvae (Melolontha melolontha L.) – preliminary results. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. 14: 73-78.
- Laznik, Ž., Tóth, T., Lakatos, T., Trdan, S. (2008). Entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) (Rhabditida:Steinernematidae), a new member of Slovenian fauna. Acta Agric. Slov. 91: 351-359.
- Mikaia N. (2012) Research of entomopathogenic nematodes abroad (Israel, Germany). Published by Georgian National Academy of Sciences. Tbilisi, pp. 1-79.
- Simard, L., Bélair, G., Brodeur, J. (2001). Susceptibility of the European chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae, Heterorhabditidae). J. Nematol. Suppl. 33: 297-301.
- White, G. F.(1927) A method for obtaining infective nematode larvae from cultures.Science 66:302-3.
This study evaluates virulence of Steinernema
carpocapsae and a locally isolated Steinernema strain
against Melolontha melolontha larvae, as a significant
agricultural pest. Comparative bioassays were conducted
to determine mortality rates, lethal concentration (LC50),
and lethal time (LT50) under controlled conditions.
Results indicate that both nematode strains effectively
infect and kill the larvae, with significant differences in
efficacy depending on nematode concentration and larval
instar stage. The findings support the potential use of
local Steinernema strains for sustainable pest
management. In laboratory conditions, the effectiveness
of pathogenic nematodes from the genus Steinernema was
evaluated for controlling harmful insects. The experiment
included the commercial strain Steinernema carpocapsae
and a local species, Steinernema spp.. The study was
conducted at temperatures of 25°C and 30°C, using two
concentrations of nematode suspensions: 2500 and 3000
infective juveniles (IJs) per 1 ml of water. The findings
revealed that the effective concentration against the May
beetle (Melolontha melolontha) should be at least 2500
nematodes per 1 ml of water, with an optimal
temperature of 25°C. Based on insect mortality rates and
temperature indices, it was confirmed that both
Steinernema carpocapsae (commercial strain) and the
local Steinernema spp. exhibit high pathogenicity.
Therefore, their application against the pest Melolontha
melolontha is well-justified.
Keywords :
Steinernema carpocapsae, Melolontha melolontha, Biological Control, Temperature. Concentration of Nematode Suspension.