Evaluating mulches together with Heterorhabditis zealandica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) for the control of diapausing codling moth larvae, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Date
2011-02
Authors
De Waal, Jeanne Y.
Malan, Antoinette P.
Addison, Matthew F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis group
Abstract
The potential of using an entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis zealandica
Poinar, together with different test mulches (pine chips, wheat straw, pine wood
shavings, blackwood and apple wood chips) to control diapausing codling moth,
Cydia pomonella (L.) larvae was evaluated. Mesh cages were identified as a
suitable larval-containment method. High levels of codling moth mortality were
obtained when using pine wood shavings as mulch (88%) compared to pine chips,
wheat straw, blackwood and apple wood chips (41-88%). Humidity (>95% RH)
has to be maintained for at least 3 days to ensure nematode survival. It was also
proven that nematodes had the ability to move out of infected soil into moist
mulch, to infect the codling moth larvae residing at heights of up to 10cm. Field
experiments showed the importance of climatic conditions on nematode
performance. Low temperatures (<15°C) recorded during the first trial resulted
in low levels of control (48%), as opposed to the 67% mortality recorded during
the second trial (temperatures ranged between 20 and 25°C). Low levels of
persistence (<10%) were recorded in the mulches post-application. The study
conclusively illustrated some of the baseline requirements fundamental to the
success of entomopathogenic nematodes together with mulches for the control of
codling moth.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.tandfonline.com
Keywords
Codling moth -- Control, Entomopathogenic nematodes, Cydia pomonella, Heterorhabditis zealandica, Mulch
Citation
De Waal, J.Y., Malan, A.P., & Addison, M.H. 2011. Evaluating mulches together with Heterorhabditis zealandica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) for the control of diapausing codling moth larvae, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology, 21(3), 255-270, doi: 10.1080/09583157.2010.540749.