Effect of Colombian strains of Steinernema colombiense (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) against Eurhizococcus colombianus (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) and Aeneolamia sp. (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Authors

  • Luis F. Aristizábal Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka, Florida 32703, USA
  • Andrés L. Ortiz Univesidad de Caldas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Manizales, Colombia
  • Juliette C. Quintero Univesidad de Caldas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Manizales, Colombia
  • Juan C. López-Nuñez Centro Nacional de Investigaciones del Café, Cenicafé
  • Henry Toro Univesidad de Caldas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Manizales, Colombia
  • Steven P. Arthurs Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka, Florida 32703, USA

Keywords:

entomopathogenic nematode, ground pearl, spittlebug, biological control

Abstract

Two entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema colombiense sp. nov. (strain SNIO198) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (strain Fresno HNI0100) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), were isolated from the Colombian Andes and cultured in the laboratory. In semi-field tests against the ground pearl Eurhizococcus colombianus Jakubski (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) on blackberry, neither species was pathogenic to crawlers and only S. colombiense was moderately infective against adults at 105 IJ/ml. Higher activity for both nematodes was observed against immature spittlebugs Aeneolamia sp. (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) infesting kikuyu grass, with H. bacteriophora and S. colombiense killing 100% and 75% of insects, respectively, in our tests. Our results demonstrate the potential use of native strains of entomopathogenic nematodes as biological control agents in Colombia.

 

Sumario

Dos especies nativas de nematodos entomopatógenos, Steinernema colombiense sp. nov. (cepa SNIO198) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) y Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (línea Fresno HNI0100) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), fueron aisladas de los Andes Colombianos y cultivadas en laboratorio. En la evaluación bajo condiciones de semi-campo contra la perla de tierra Eurhizococcus colombianus Jakubski (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) en mora, ninguna de las especies fue patogénica contra los estados inmaduros y solamente S. colombiense fue moderadamente infectiva contra los adultos at 105 IJ/ml. Mayor actividad de ambos entomo nematodos fue observada contra los estados inmaduros del salivazo Aeneolamia sp. (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) infectando pasto kikuyo con H. bacteriophora y S. colombiense controlando en nuestra evaluación 100% y 75% de los insectos respectivamente. Nuestros resultados demuestran el uso potencial de cepas nativas de nematodos entomopatógenos como agentes de control biológico en Colombia.

 

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Author Biographies

Luis F. Aristizábal, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka, Florida 32703, USA

Entomology

Andrés L. Ortiz, Univesidad de Caldas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Manizales, Colombia

Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias

Juliette C. Quintero, Univesidad de Caldas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Manizales, Colombia

Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias

Juan C. López-Nuñez, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones del Café, Cenicafé

Disciplina de Recursos Naturales y Conservación

Henry Toro, Univesidad de Caldas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Manizales, Colombia

Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias

Steven P. Arthurs, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka, Florida 32703, USA

Entomology

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Issue

Vol. 98, No. 3 (September 2015)

Section

Scientific Notes

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