Biological control potential of native entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) against<i>Spodoptera cilium</i>(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in turfgrass

Abstract

In laboratory studies, we demonstrated that five native entomopathogenic nematode species/isolates caused 100% mortality of Spodoptera cilium larvae, a soil surface-feeding pest of turfgrass. At 25 infective juveniles/cm2 applied to sod, two selected Turkish species, Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Sarigerme isolate), averaged 77% and 29% larval mortality, respectively.