Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematodes to Eurygaster maura L. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (Anamur strain) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Tur-H1), H. bacteriophora (Tur-H2) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) was tested against the cereal insect pest, Eurygaster maura (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae). The cup assay was used to assess nematode pathogenicity in single dose and dose mortality bioassays. The single-dose assay showed that all three species caused significant host mo, tality. Nematode-induced mortality increased as the exposure time increased from 72 to 144 h. The mortality induced by the nematodes S. carpocapsae, Tur-H1 and Tur-H2, were 55%, 69%, and 95% respectively. In single-dose exposures, the Tur-H2 strain of H. bacteriophora was the most pathogenic among the three nematodes tested. LC50 values of the nematodes varied from 8 to 62. These results indicate that entomopathogenic nematodes may be useful for control of E maura.