Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematode isolates from Turkey against wheat stink bug, Aelia rostrata Boheman (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) adults under laboratory conditions

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe wheat stink bug,Aelia rostrataBoheman (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is one of the harmful insects that caused significant product losses in cereals due to outbreaks. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are natural enemies of soil insect pests whose effects as a biocontrol agent against many harmful pests have been demonstrated by many laboratories and field/garden studies in the world. The present laboratory studies, using native EPNs [Steinernema carpocapsae(Black sea isolate),S. feltiae(isolate 09-31) (Aydin isolate) andHeterorhabditis bacteriophora(isolate 09-43) (Aydin isolate)] against the wheat stink bug adults, were carried out.ResultsIn the application of EPNs to the soil in plastic cups, the highest mortality rates (75 and 70%) on wheat stink bug occurred at 200 IJs cm−2concentration ofS. carpocapsaeisolate at 15 and 12 °C, respectively. In other tested nematode species, the highest insect mortality was observed at 200 IJs cm−2concentration ofS. feltiaeandH. bacteriophoraisolates, with mortality rates of 65–35% and 55–25%, at 15 and 12 °C, respectively.S. carpocapsae(Black sea isolate) was the most pathogenic among the three nematodes tested.ConclusionsIt was concluded thatS. carpocapsaehad the potential as a biocontrol agent against the wheat stink bug,A. rostrata. The applications ofS. carpocapsaewere the great potential for the management of the pest. Effective use of EPNs should be evaluated in integrated pest management strategies between other biological control agents. According to EPNs laboratory experiments results, field trials should be conducted in future studies.