Selection of insect parasitic nematodes for biological control of the garden chafer, <i>Phyllopertha horticola</i>

Abstract

Abstract Larvae of Phyllopertha horticola L. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) cause increasing problems on sports fields and lawns in NW‐Europe. A biological control programme using insect parasitic nematodes is being developed. This paper contains the results of bioassays with various species and isolates of the nematode genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema. In bioassays in small pots with moist sand, most of the nematode isolates gave 30–60% mortality against each of the three larval stages. The susceptibility of the grubs for nematode infection generally increased with larval development. H. bacteriophora, H. heliothidis, H. megidis , a Dutch Heterorhabditis isolate NLH‐E87.3 and S. glaseri 326 showed the highest mortality rates, with nearly 100% mortality of third instar grubs. The Dutch Heterorhabditis isolate NLH‐E87.3 and S. glaseri 326 were selected as candidates for further studies on their potential as biological control agents for P. horticola grubs in the field.