Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, wireworms and white grubs are important pests of potato that are challenging to manage. This study evaluated three endemic entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Steinernema carpocapsae ‘NY01’, S. feltiae ‘NY04’, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora ‘Oswego’) as biocontrol agents against L. decemlineata, wireworms and white grubs in New York. The efficacy of individual EPN species and their combinations on L. decemlineata larval mortality was assessed via soil-based bioassays in the laboratory. Additionally, L. decemlineata survival and percentage of tubers damaged by wireworms and white grubs were evaluated in field trials in which combinations of pairs of EPN species were applied to the soil at least one month prior to initiating the experiment. Results from bioassays indicated that among the three EPN species, L. decemlineata late instars were most susceptible to H. bacteriophora ‘Oswego’. Additionally, larval mortality was generally higher (14% on average) using pairs of EPN species compared to single species. Soil applications of pairs of EPN species prior to potato planting did not affect L. decemlineata adult survival either during the summer or following spring. However, tuber damage caused by wireworms and white grubs was reduced by 40% using a combination of H. bacteriophora ‘Oswego’ and S. feltiae ‘NY04’. Overall, EPNs applied in soil have potential as biocontrol agents for soil-dwelling pests like wireworms and white grubs in potato, and their efficacy also may extend beyond a single cropping season, but do not seem to be an effective tool for L. decemlineata management in potato.

中文翻译：

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地方性昆虫病原线虫对管理科罗拉多马铃薯甲虫和马铃薯中块茎有害害虫的评价


科罗拉多马铃薯甲虫、Leptinotarsa decemlineata、线虫和白蛴螬是马铃薯的重要害虫，难以管理。本研究评估了三种地方性昆虫病原线虫 （EPN） （Steinernema carpocapsae 'NY01'、S. feltiae 'NY04' 和 Heterorhabditis bacteriophora 'Oswego'）作为针对纽约 L. decemlineata、线虫和白蛴螬的生物防治剂。在实验室中通过基于土壤的生物测定评估单个 EPN 物种及其组合对 L. decemlineata 幼虫死亡率的疗效。此外，在田间试验中评估了 L. decemlineata 的存活率和被线虫和白色蛴螬破坏的块茎的百分比，其中在实验开始前至少一个月将 EPN 物种对的组合施用于土壤。生物测定结果表明，在 3 种 EPN 物种中，L. decemlineata 晚龄最易受 H. bacteriophora 'Oswego' 的影响。此外，与单个物种相比，使用 EPN 物种对的幼虫死亡率通常更高（平均 14%）。在马铃薯种植前施用成对的 EPN 物种不会影响 L. decemlineata 成虫在夏季或春季的存活率。然而，使用拟菌 'Oswego' 和 S. feltiae 'NY04' 的组合，由线虫和白蛴螬引起的块茎损伤减少了 40%。总体而言，在土壤中施用的 EPN 有可能作为土壤中害虫（如马铃薯中的线虫和白蛴螬）的生物防治剂，它们的功效也可能延伸到单个种植季节之外，但似乎不是马铃薯中 L. decemlineata 管理的有效工具。