Biocontrol Potential of Turkish Entomopathogenic Nematodes Against the Citrus Mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

The citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is one of the major pests of Citrus orchards in Turkey. Management of P. citri is quite challenging due to its cryptic and polyphagous feeding behavior. In the current study, the control potential of native entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) species (Heterorhabditis indica 216-H, H. bacteriophora FLH-4H, Steinernema carpocapsae E-76, S. feltiae KCS-4S, and S. bicornotum MGZ-4S) against P. citri was evaluated under laboratory conditions at different concentrations [80, 100, 150, 200 (Infective juveniles) IJs Adult-1] and temperatures (20, 25, 30 ºC). The mortality rates ranged between 16 and 58% at the highest concentration 48 hours after treatment. The highest efficacy (68%) was obtained by Heterorhabditis indica 216-H at the highest concentration at 25 ºC. The mortality rates were generally higher at 25 ºC than other temperatures tested and H. indica 216-H performed better than other EPN species tested at this temperature at all concentrations. The results indicate that H. indica 216-H have a great potential in the control of P. citri.