Biological control of Emphasis Type="Italic"Alph

Authors: Eleodoro E Del Valle Laureano S Frizzo Melisa Malmierca María V Zbrun Paola Lax Marcelo E Doucet

Publish Date: 2015/05/10

Volume: 89, Issue: 1, Pages: 161-170

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Abstract

Chemical insecticides often are not efficient in reducing Alphitobius diaperinus populations in poultry farms and have induced insect resistance Entomopathogenic nematodes EPNs appear as an alternative to pest biocontrol agents however their efficiency on rice hull litter is still unknown The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of Steinernema rarum CUL isolate Heterorhabditis bacteriophora SMC isolate and their symbiotic bacteria as biocontrol agents of A diaperinus larvae and adults in rice hull litter Mortality of insect adults and fifth and seventhinstar larvae was determined in Petri dishes containing filter paper or rice hull The effect of Xenorhabdus szentirmaii and Photorhabdus luminescens on L7 and adults in rice hull substrate was also evaluated Moreover the effectiveness of the EPNs was assessed in bags in an environment simulating the prevailing conditions in a broiler chicken farm Under laboratory conditions insect mortality was significantly affected by EPN species substrate insect stage and time after application Mortality of L5 and L7 caused by EPNs in rice hulls reached a peak of 64 and 573  respectively whereas symbiotic bacteria applied on rice hull showed low mortality rate at both insect stages In the simulated poultry farm conditions S rarum and H bacteriophora caused up to 408 and 504  mortality of A diaperinus larvae respectively but with adult mortality being low for both species We conclude that infective juveniles from S rarum CUL and H bacteriophora SMC isolates can be used as biological control agents of A diaperinus larvae in chicken litter containing rice hulls

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