Control of Black Vine Weevil Larvae Using Nematodes, 1988

Abstract

BVW-infested Euonymus fortunel radicans, growing outdoors in 2-gal containers in a Massachusetts commercial nursery were treated with 3 commercially-produced nematode strains.. Two strains of Heterorhabditis sp. (HL 81 and HP 88) and one strain of Steinernema feltiae Filipjev (= Neoplectana carpocapsae Weiser) (NC All) were applied on 3 dates; 6 May (light rain, 17°C); 20 May (cloudy, 20°C); 6 Jun (cloudy, 21°C) to determine the effect of timing of application on the ability of the nematodes to control black vine weevil larvae. The completely randomized experimental design consisted of 20 replicate plants/treatment teematode strain;application date or the untreated check).. The commercial nematode preparations were suspended in 10 liters of tap water and applied to the surface of the container medium (3:2 hardwood bark:sand by vol) at a rate of 1,000,000 nematodes/m2. Efficacy of the treatments was determined by the number of BVW per container that successfully completed metamorphosis and emerged as adults from the container medium (the plants were covered with cheesecloth netting attached to the outside of the container to keep emerging BVW inside the containers and to exclude migrating BVW).