Entomopathogenic nematode performance against Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in school athletic turf: Effects of traffic and soil properties

• 全文链接
• 请求原文

作   者：

Helmberger, M. S.;  Thaler, J. S.;  Shields, E. J.;  Wickings, K. G.; 

作者机构：

E Lansing;  NY 14853 USA;  Michigan State Univ;  Cornell Univ;  MI 48824 USA;  Ithaca; 

关键词：

Steinernema feltiae;  Augmentative biological control;  Heterorhabditis bacteriophora;  Integrated pest management;  White grubs; 

期刊名称：

Biological Control: Theory and Application in Pest Management

i s s n：

1049-9644

年卷期：

2018 年 126 卷

页   码：

177-184

页   码：

摘   要：

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have potential as an alternate means of controlling soil-dwelling pests in settings such as school athletic fields, where use of chemical pesticides is often restricted or prohibited. Athletic fields are also unique among turfgrass systems, as their distinct pattern of foot traffic can result in compaction and other soil properties varying across different areas of the field, potentially causing variability in EPN performance even within a single field, as many abiotic and biotic soil properties are known to influence EPN efficacy. We tested the efficacy of the EPNs Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora against third-instar grubs of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica in high-traffic and low-traffic areas of two soccer fields in New York State, one grown atop loam soil and the other atop loamy sand. Efficacy was low in the loam soil but modest for both species in the loamy sand, though the only significant increase over controls occurred in S. feltiae-inoculated plots within low traffic areas in 2016. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed positive associations between efficacy of both EPN species and soil sand content, suggesting that sandy soils are most optimal for curative applications against turfgrass pests. Soil biotic factors, such as microarthropod abundance, were not found to have an effect on EPNs. These results will aid turfgrass managers by improving knowledge of the conditions required for effective use of EPNs.