Sustainable Grain Protectants: Recruiting Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Stored-Product Coleopterans

Stored-product commodities are attacked by numerous insect species. The adulticidal effects of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) on grains remain uninvestigated. Thus, in the current study, seven doses EPNs Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) Steinernematidae), and feltiae (Filipjev) Steinernematidae) were inoculated wheat kernels against adults Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), Tenebrio molitor L. Tenebrionidae), Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) Tenebrionidae). Complete mortality (100.0%) T. was recorded after exposure for eight days to highest dose 50,000 Infective Juveniles/mL (IJs/mL) all tested EPN At same interval, 62.2%, 85.6%, 76.7% killed IJs/mL H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae, feltiae, respectively. A. (11.1%) documented post-exposure bacteriophora. In general, highly susceptible, followed diaperinus. Concerning species, exhibited insecticidal capacity, can be sufficiently managed three However, not affected any EPNs.