Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) are two soil-dwelling biological control agents used to manage western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and fungus gnats Bradysis spp. (Diptera: Sciaridae) in glasshouses. Growers often use multiple natural enemie...

A new entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema tophus n. sp. is described from South Africa. Morphological, molecular (ribosomal gene sequence data) together with cross-hybridization studies were used for diagnostics and identification purposes. Both molecular and morphological data indicate the new species belongs to the 'glaseri-group' of Steinernema spp. Key morphological diagnostic traits for...

The vertical migration of N. carpocapsae infective juveniles applied to the soil surface or introduced 14 cm below the soil surface was studied in four different soil types (pure silica sand, coarse sandy loam, silty clay loam, and clay). The percentage of juveniles able to migrate and infect wax moth pupae placed in the soil decreased as the percentage of clay and silt increased. Most nematode...

Entomopathogenic nematodes in Steinernema, together with their symbiont bacteria Xenorhabdus, are obligate and lethal parasites of insects that can provide effective biological control of some important lepidopteran, dipteran, and coleopteran pests of commercial crops. Phylogenetic relationships among 21 Steinernema species were estimated using 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences and morphologic...

In a laboratory experiment an efficacy of entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae in controlling third-stage larvae of common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) was studied. The experiment comprised of commercial product Entonem and indigenous strain C76. The efficacy of both biological agents was tested at 20 and 25 oC and at four different concentrations of nematode suspension: 0, 250.0...

In Slovenia only recently entomopathogenic nematodes were recorded for the first time. In the beginning of 2007, the presence of Steinernema affine was confirmed. During the further investigations in the same year Steinernema feltiae was recorded on the arable field near Cerknica. In the previous year this field was planted with chicory. In Slovenia, until now the entomopathogenic nematodes had...