Controlling of Larvae, Pupae and Adults of the Peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saund.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) with the Entomopathogenic Nematode, Steinernema feltiae

The present study aimed to control the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saund.) (Diptera: Tephritidae) using the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae to either the fallen guava fruits infested with B. zonata eggs or the soil under them. The results indicated that tested application methods of the nematode can be used successfully against all stages of B. zonata. Spraying the fallen fruits with nematode suspension led to infection of the larvae inside the fruits with the nematode in addition to infection of the prepupae in the soil. Moreover, most of the emerged adults from the sprayed soil were found dead due to nematode's infection. So, spraying the nematode suspension on the soil in the presence or absence of B. zonata-infested fallen fruits, practically is highly recommended for controlling the pest in the soil.