Chapter 11
Application Efficacy Against Insects in Other Than Soil
Habitats
Abstract
The field efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against a widespread range of insect species in numerous
crops and environments helps to tolerate the plant community. EPNs are also efficient biocontrol agents
against many insect pests found in other than soil habitats like cryptic habitats and greenhouses. A horde of
insect pests exploit cryptic environments for all or a percentage of their life cycle. The greenhouse whitefly is
a widespread pest on several greenhouse crops. Green house experiments and Field trials with EPNs have
confirmed the usefulness of nematodes for pest control.
Keywords Cryptic, Greenhouses, Codling moth, Hoplia philanthus grub, Black vine weevil, Trialeurodes vaporariorum
l
Entomopathogenic nematodes have proved to be successful
biocontrol agents in agriculture due their efficacy in controlling
major pests such as insect [235, 236].
l
Nematodes have been used against diverse pests including those
found in the soil, in cryptic habitats, greenhouses, on foliage, in
manure, and in aquatic habitats [237].
l
Even though the host range of entomopathogenic nematodes
comprises more than 200 insect species, nematodes have only
been fruitfully marketed for a small fraction of these
insects [238].
l
The field efficacy of EPNs against a widespread range of insect
species in numerous crops and environments helps to tolerate
the plant community. Many of these insects live in soil, while
some, such as the artichoke plume moth and larval sesiids and
cossids, dwell in cryptic environments.
l
Together soil and cryptic habitats guard nematodes from dehydration and UV light, buffer temperature extremes, and encourage contact between nematodes and the target insects.
S. Sivaramakrishnan and M. Razia, Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria, Springer Protocols Handbooks,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_11,
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
153
Application Efficacy Against Insects in Other Than Soil
Habitats
Abstract
The field efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against a widespread range of insect species in numerous
crops and environments helps to tolerate the plant community. EPNs are also efficient biocontrol agents
against many insect pests found in other than soil habitats like cryptic habitats and greenhouses. A horde of
insect pests exploit cryptic environments for all or a percentage of their life cycle. The greenhouse whitefly is
a widespread pest on several greenhouse crops. Green house experiments and Field trials with EPNs have
confirmed the usefulness of nematodes for pest control.
Keywords Cryptic, Greenhouses, Codling moth, Hoplia philanthus grub, Black vine weevil, Trialeurodes vaporariorum
l
Entomopathogenic nematodes have proved to be successful
biocontrol agents in agriculture due their efficacy in controlling
major pests such as insect [235, 236].
l
Nematodes have been used against diverse pests including those
found in the soil, in cryptic habitats, greenhouses, on foliage, in
manure, and in aquatic habitats [237].
l
Even though the host range of entomopathogenic nematodes
comprises more than 200 insect species, nematodes have only
been fruitfully marketed for a small fraction of these
insects [238].
l
The field efficacy of EPNs against a widespread range of insect
species in numerous crops and environments helps to tolerate
the plant community. Many of these insects live in soil, while
some, such as the artichoke plume moth and larval sesiids and
cossids, dwell in cryptic environments.
l
Together soil and cryptic habitats guard nematodes from dehydration and UV light, buffer temperature extremes, and encourage contact between nematodes and the target insects.
S. Sivaramakrishnan and M. Razia, Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria, Springer Protocols Handbooks,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_11,
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
153