Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes on the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (olivier, 1790) (coleoptera: curculionidae) larvae

Author(s): Ugur Gözel*, Çiğdem Gözel, Çiğdem Yurt, Deniz İnci

Abstract

In this study the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes; Steinernema affine (Bovien), S. carpocapsae (Weiser), S. feltiae (Filipjev) and Heterorhabtidis bacteriophora (Poinar) on the larvae of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) (Red Palm Weevil) were investigated. In the bioassays, 9x5x5 cm sized plastic boxes were used. Base of each box, Whatman filter paper was placed and a last instar larva of red palm weevil was put. The entomopathogenic nematodes were inoculated to the larvae at the rate of 500IJs/larva and were incubated at 25°C. After infection, R. ferrugineus larvae were checked daily and mortality on larvae were recorded. The study was ended at the end of 7th day and the results were evaluated. All entomopathogenic nematode species used in this study caused different mortality on red palm weevil larvae. The highest mortality was caused by H. bacteriophora with 93.5%, S. carpocapsae followed it with 91.4%. S. feltiae and S. affine caused 36.4% and 21.2% mortality on R. ferrugineus larvae respectively. As a result, potential use of EPNs against the red palm weevil should be discussed to control this pest.

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