The lure of hidden death: development of an attract-and-kill strategy against Agriotes obscurus (Coleoptera: Elateridae) combining semiochemicals and entomopathogenic nematodes

Wireworms are polyphagous soil-dwelling pests that hard to control. Attract-and-kill strategies, combining attractive semiochemicals with biocontrol agents, have great promise control insect pests. We hypothesized the combination of plant and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in an attract-and-kill system could greatly enhance nematodes' efficiency against wireworms. evaluated potential alginate beads loaded extracts EPNs Agriotes obscurus. tested kill wireworms or reduce their feeding activity when potato tuber as attractants any seven different EPN populations. While a direct application on did not nor increased mortality, encapsulated resulted attraction consumption caused up 50% wireworm mortality species Steinernema carpocapsae. Beads significant reduction wireworms' activity. This study shows EPN-containing survival negatively affected. Considering long developmental time capability soil, implementing this field might be suitable strategy for long-term management