Biocontrol of Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Using Entomopathogenic Nematodes: The Impact of Infected Host Cadaver Application and Soil Characteristics.

Wireworms have become a significant menace to cereals in the Northern Great Plains. Therefore, research toward developing effective control methods such as biological control with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) is warranted. Two strains, each of two EPN species, Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) and Steinernema riobrave Cabanillas, Poinar, and Raulston in the form of infected Galleria mellonella (L.) cadavers were evaluated against wireworms in field and greenhouse. In field experiments, none of the four EPN strains were found effective against wireworms. However, in the greenhouse test, three of the strains, S. carpocapsae (All and Cxrd) or S. riobrave (355) applied in cadavers killed 50-68% of the sugarbeet wireworm, Limonius californicus (Mannerheim) was associated with 8-24% plant damage at 35 d after treatment (DAT), when seeds were treated with imidacloprid. The mortality range was 40-56% with 57-75% plant damage observed at 35 DAT, when seeds were planted without imidacloprid treatment. Synergistic effect among imidacloprid and S. carpocapsae (Cxrd) or S. riobrave (355) was observed in regard to L. californicus mortality. Additionally, effects of soil texture, moisture, and temperature on the infection rate of EPNs against L. californicus were examined in the laboratory. Limonius californicus mortality was not significantly affected by either soil moisture or soil types maintained at field capacity moisture levels. However, soil temperature showed a significant effect on L. californicus mortality. Overall, imidacloprid enhanced the infection and killing ability of EPNs against L. californicus and S. carpocapsae (All and Cxrd) strains were the virulent strains in different soil experiments.