Entomogenous Nematodes for Control of Subterranean Termites, Reticulitermes spp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

Laboratory and field studies were done to determine the efficacy of entomogenous nematodes in preventing or eliminating eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), in the laboratory and infestations of Reticulitermes spp. in the field. Nematodes tested in a laboratory study were two strains (Breton and All) of Steinernema feltiae Filipjev (=Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser), S. bibionis (Bovien), and Heterorhabditis heliothidis (Khan, Brooks, and Hirschmann). The same nematodes were tested in field studies except that the Mexican strain of S. feltiae was used instead of the Breton strain. In the laboratory study, termites quickly moved from a nest container through a tube containing a mixture of sand, vermiculite, and water to reach a chamber in which nematodes had been released. After 9.5 wk, termite survival rates in the nematode treatments and in the untreated controls did not differ significantly. In field studies, nematodes did not eliminate or control termites either in a simulation of soil treatments under concrete slabs or in logs naturally infested with termites.