Establishment and Persistence of Steinernema scapterisci (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) in Field Populations of Scapteriscus spp. Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Abstract

The first successful inoculative releases of an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema scapterisci Nguyen and Smart, for the control of exotic pests, Scapteriscus spp. mole crickets, were made at three pasture sites in Alachua County, Florida in 1985. Based on the evaluation of field-collected crickets, the nematode was established at all sites and persisted for over 5 years. Mean yearly percentage of infected crickets ranged from 0 to 21.4% for individual release sites. Mean adult infection level for all years combined, 10.9%, was significantly greater than that for nymphs (2.5%) and infection levels for Scapteriscus borellii Giglio-Tos, 12.7%, was significantly greater than that for Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder (4.5%) for all years combined. Although 24 h trap catch results indicate mole cricket populations were significantly reduced, the nematode's effect on pest abundance could not be adequately assessed because of the variation in trap catch results and inadequate knowledge about the relationship between trap catch and the mole cricket field populations being sampled. Despite inadequacies in estimating pest abundance, the results indicate S. scapterisci has potential as a biological control agent for pest mole crickets in the genus Scapteriscus.

Integration of Insect Parasitic Nematodes (Rhabditida Steinernematidae) with Insecticides for Control of Pest Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae: <I>Scapteriscus</I> spp.)

“…The insect parasitic nematode Steinernema scapterisci was discovered in Uruguay in the early 1980s, cultured in the U.S., and released in Florida in 1985 (Parkman et al 1993b). This nematode infects older mole cricket nymphs and adults and recycles within the soil environment.…”

“…For example, commercial formulations may be sprayed onto turfgrass (Parkman et al 1993a(Parkman et al ,b, 1994, chiseled, injected, or buried into the ground (Parkman et al 1993b;Adjei et al 2003), or target pests may be trapped into containers, treated with nematodes, and then released (Parkman & Frank 1992). To enhance the establishment of S. scapterisci , adult mole crickets can be attracted to a treated area with synthetic, electronic male mole cricket songs (Parkman & Frank 1992).…”

“…To enhance the establishment of S. scapterisci , adult mole crickets can be attracted to a treated area with synthetic, electronic male mole cricket songs (Parkman & Frank 1992). Application timing is limited to when large nymphs and adults are present and actively tunneling through the soil, primarily late August to late October and March to May in the southern U.S. Usually only one application of S. scapterisci is necessary to successfully establish and recover S. scapterisci populations on a site (Parkman et al 1993b), but annual applications are recommended (Lombardo et al 1999).…”

Heterorhabditis mexicana n. sp. (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) from Tamaulipas, Mexico, and morphological studies of the bursa of Heterorhabditis spp.

“…One method of improving biocontrol potential is the isolation of new species and several biocontrol successes have been based on such discoveries. Steinernema scapterisci Nguyen & Smart, 1990, isolated from Scapteriscus (Scudder) mole crickets in Uruguay is often cited as a successful use of entomopathogenic nematodes in classical biological control (Parkman et al, 1993(Parkman et al, , 1994Parkman & Smart, 1996;Shapiro-Ilan et al, 2002). Currently, the nematode is commercially available for controlling mole * Corresponding author, e-mail: kbn@ufl.edu crickets in a number of southern states of the USA, including Florida.…”

Population Dynamics, Persistence, and Efficacy of the Entomopathogenic NematodeHeterorhabditis bacteriophora(Oswego Strain) in Association with the Clover Root Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Pennsylvania

“…Nematodes were able to persist by reproducing in the grubs and did not negatively affect nontarget arthropods. Following inoculative release against mole crickets, the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema scapterisci Nguyen and Smart established in Florida turfgrass (Parkman et al 1993). Campbell et al (1995Campbell et al ( , 1996Campbell et al ( , 1998 studied the dynamics of endemic entomopathogenic nematode populations in turfgrass with an emphasis on the relationship between the nematodes and potential soil hosts.…”