Progress with the use of nematodes and bacteria for the control of grass grub

Abstract

Artificially cultured formulations of Neoaplectana glaseri and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (strain V16) and a bacterium tentatively identified as Hafnia alvei were applied to infested field plots in New Zealand for the biological control of larvae of the pasture pest Costelytra zealandica (White). After 1 month, both nematodes were recovered from the soil and found in larval cadavers, and the reductions in populations of C. zealandica in treated plots ranged from 0 to 92%. Two months after the application of the bacteria, 18-27% of the larvae displayed disease symptoms and a population reduction of 55% was recorded in 1 trial.