Compatibility of acaricides with entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis)

Abstract

To expand our knowledge about the compatibility of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) to pesticides, we studied the compatibility of EPN infective juveniles (IJ) to five acaricides under laboratory conditions. Four EPN species were used: Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae, S. kraussei and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. The results of our laboratory investigation showed that H. bacteriophora was the most tolerant EPN species and the most sensitive species was S. feltiae. Our observations showed that S. feltiae can be mixed with only two acaricides. The active substance (a.s.) fenpyroximate proved to be the most suitable for mixing with EPN. Fenpyroximate was only lethal to S. feltiae (44% mortality) at 25°C. The mortality of EPN was highest in the a.s. abamectin and pyrethrin. The mortality of EPN was influenced by species, exposure time, a.s. and temperature. The combined use of EPN and acaricides could represent an advantage in integrated plant protection programmes.