Susceptibility of Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) to Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae).

Joseph Tourtois,Matthew J Grieshop

doi:10.3390/insects6010224

Abstract

Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) are two soil-dwelling biological control agents used to manage western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and fungus gnats Bradysis spp. (Diptera: Sciaridae) in glasshouses. Growers often use multiple natural enemies to achieve economic control, but knowledge of interactions among natural enemies is lacking. We conducted a laboratory bioassay to test the pathogenicity of four commercially available nematode species—Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhbditidae), Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), S. feltiae (Filipjev), and S. riobrave Cabanillas et al.—to third instar and adult D. coriaria. Third instars were three times more susceptible than the adults to the entomopathogenic nematodes. Mortality for D. coriaria adults and third instars treated with S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora was lower than the mortality for D. coriaria adults and third instars treated with S. carpocapsae and S. riobrave. Neither infective juvenile foraging behavior nor size correlates with D. coriaria mortality. Dalotia coriaria appears to be most likely compatible with applications of S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora.

Highlights

Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and entomopathogenic nematodes are two soil-dwelling biological control agents used to manage common greenhouse pests including: thrips, fungus gnats, and shore flies
Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major pest of vegetable production and floriculture in greenhouses and nurseries [2,3]. Due to their cryptic behaviors and their resistance to many insecticides, biological control has become increasingly important to successful western flower thrips management programs [2,3,4,5]
The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of D. coriaria third instars and adults to four commonly used species of entomopathogenic nematodes: H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, and S. riobrave

Summary

Introduction

Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and entomopathogenic nematodes are two soil-dwelling biological control agents used to manage common greenhouse pests including: thrips, fungus gnats, and shore flies. Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major pest of vegetable production and floriculture in greenhouses and nurseries [2,3] Due to their cryptic behaviors (eggs laid in plant tissue, pupation occurs in the soil, and feeding on developing tissues) and their resistance to many insecticides, biological control has become increasingly important to successful western flower thrips management programs [2,3,4,5]. Both entomopathogenic nematodes and D. coriaria are employed to target the soil-dwelling stage of western flower thrips (i.e., prepupae and pupae)

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