Efficacy of entomogenous nematodes for control of porina (wiseana cervinata) in canterbury pastures during winter

Abstract

Entomopathogenic nematodes were tested for their efficacy against porina larvae (Wiseana cervinata) in pot and field trials in Canterbury, New Zealand during winter. Four nematode strains, Steinernema feltiae (= bibionis) CA, S. glaseri, Heterorhabditis sp. HL81, and H. bacteriophora V16 were used in a pot trial at temperatures between 3 and 12°C. S. feltiae CA was the most pathogenic strain causing 100% mortality at the highest rate of application. S. feltiae CA and H. bacteriophora V16 were tested further in the field. Applied in June at a rate of 4 × 105infectivesl m2, S. feltiae CA provided a 60% reduction in porina numbers during the winter months, whereas H. bacteriophora V16 provided a 25% reduction in spring. © 1992 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.