Use of a Sound Trap to Inoculate Steinernema scapterisci (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) into Pest Mole Cricket Populations (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Abstract

We report on a novel method to disseminate an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema scapterisci Nguyen & Smart, planned to capitalize on the potential of the nematode as a classical, inoculative biological control agent. Scapteriscus mole crickets were attracted to synthetic mole cricket song and thus exposed to up to 1.5 million infective-stage S. scapterisci during the spring and early summer mole cricket flight season for 2 consecutive years. Releases were made on 28 Florida golf courses and one sod farm. The nematode was established by exposing attracted mole cricket adults to infective-stage juvenile S. scapterisci held in moist sand (seven sites) and in damp upholstery foam (2 sites). Based on capture of nematode-infected mole crickets at least three months after release, S. scapterisci was established on eight of the golf courses and the sod farm.