Compared virulence of the Belgian isolate of Steinernema glaseri (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and the type population of S. scarabaei to white grub species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract

Abstract The virulence of the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema glaseri Belgian strain and S. scarabaei against different development stages of the European cockchafer Melolontha melolontha, Hoplia philanthus and Serica brunnea was compared in the laboratory. The virulence of S. glaseri did not differ among first, second and third instars of M. melolontha, H. philanthus or S. brunnea. However, the virulence of S. scarabaei to second and third instars of M. melolontha was greater than to first instars of this insect species, but did not differ significantly between second and third instars of H. philanthus. Our observations, combined with those of previous studies on other nematode and white grub species, show that nematode virulence against white grub developmental stages varies with white grub and nematodes species.