Compatibility of Pesticides With the Entomopathogenic Nematode Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora Poinar (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae)

Abstract

The effect of 75 pesticides from various chemical groups on viability/vitality, on infectivity and on mobility/infectivity of the infective juveniles of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar is reported. A combination of different methods was devised to standardize pesticide testing with entomopathogenic nematodes. In the experiments 24 fungicides, 25 herbicides, 18 insecticides, 5 acaricides and 2 nematicides were tested altogether. The fungicides fentin-acetate, dodine and carbendazirn, the herbicides alachlor and paraquat, the insecticides parathion, phorate, terbufos, fonofos, isofenphos + phoxim, aldicarb, carbofuran and methomyl, the mite growth regulator flubenzimine and the nematicides metham sodium and phenamiphos were toxic at concentrations at or less than the recommended application rates. Factors to take into account when entomopathogenic nematodes are used together with pesticides are given.