Biological control potential of Turkish entomopathogenic nematodes against the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata

ABSTRACT

Three Turkish isolates of the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were evaluated under laboratory conditions (in different temperatures and doses) for their biocontrol efficiency against last instar Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Herein, the effects of infective juveniles in aqueous suspension against L. decemlineata were evaluated. S. feltiae appeared to be the most pathogenic nematode among the tested species.

KEYWORDS:

• Entomopathogenic nematodes
• Colorado potato beetle
• Leptinotarsa decemlineata
• biological control

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to Prof. Dr S. Hazır for kindly providing the entomopathogenic nematode isolates and to our friend M. Diktaş for providing L. decemlineata populations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.