Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against neonate larvae of Capnodis tenebrionis (L., 1758) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) have a high potential for control of pests living in isolated places such as underground or galleries.In this study, mortality rates of Capnodis tenebrionis (L., 1758) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) larvae from four EPN species Steinernema affine Bovien, 1937, Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, 1934, Steinernema feltiae Filipjev, 1934 (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) collected from Turkey under controlled conditions were determined. EPN used in the study were cultured on Galleria mellonella (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Adults of C. tenebrionis were collected from the orchards of ？anakkale Province and, eggs and larvae were cultured under controlled conditions. Three densities of EPN species, viz. 50, 500 and 1000 infective juveniles/C. tenebrionis, were applied in 12-well plates. Cherry saplings were planted into pots with sterilized soil mixture and 10 neonate larvae of C. tenebrionisadded to each pot. To each pot, 40,000 infective juveniles were applied for each EPN species in 10 ml of water. Mortalities of C. tenebrionis larvae were determined 1, 3, 5 and 7 d after application. In the plates, mortality of C. tenebrionis larvae increased with time after EPN application. For all application rates, mortality of C. tenebrionis larvae was 100% by day 5. Mortality of C. tenebrionis larvae ranged between 50 and 90% depending on species and time in pots. Efficacy studies were conducted in 2016 in ？anakkale. Research on the efficacy of EPN species that have a high mortality under controlled conditions is important to determine their potential to control the target pest