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Abstract
Entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) occurrence in soil from natural areas and crop field edges from La Rioja (northern Spain) was compared using two insects as baits: Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Both insects trapped Steinernema feltiae, S. kraussei and S. carpocapsae, with G. mellonella being more efficient than S. littoralis recording 5.4 and 2.6% of positive soil samples, respectively. EPN recovery frequency and abundance obtained with G. mellonella were not statistically different between natural and crop field edges values; however, S. littoralis was more successful trapping EPNs from crop field edges. Statistical differences were observed for recovery frequency recorded by both hosts in natural areas. Significant differences in larval mortality between both insects were not observed. The use of S. littoralis in entomopathogenic nematode surveys is discussed.
Acknowledgements
We thank Ana Piedra Buena and our Editor Mark S. Goettel for valuable comments on the manuscript and Laura Barrios for statistical advice; Milagros Herrera and Laura Ezquerro for assisting in the soil collection; Sonia Labrador and Manuel Fernandez for soil sample preparation and rearing insects. This research was supported with funds from the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (Grants: REN2002-02550 and DGL-2005-07661/BOS), Instituto de Estudios Riojanos, Consejería de Educación, Cultura, Juventud y Deportes del Gobierno de La Rioja (Grant: 2002/3461) and Unión de Agricultores y Ganaderos de La Rioja-Coordinadora de Agricultores y Ganaderos (UAGR-COAG) (Grant: 2003/672). We thank the Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deportes (FPU predoctoral fellowship). These studies were part of the PhD Dissertation of R. Campos-Herrera.