Laboratory assay of entomopathogenic nematodes against the elm leaf beetle, Xanthogaleruca luteola Müller (Col.: Chrysomelidae)

The susceptibility of the elm leaf beetle, Xanthogaleruca luteola Müller (Col.: Chrysomelidae), 3rd instar larvae and adults to the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora was determined in laboratory assays. Larval mortality was assessed at 0, 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, and 112 h after exposure of the larvae and adults to six concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500) of infective juveniles (IJs) per mL. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values for each nematode species against the larvae and adults of X. luteola were 167.59 and 6.73 IJ.mL-1 for S. feltiae, 218.23 and 204.09 IJ.mL-1 for S. carpocapsae, and 338.66 and 70.29 IJ.mL-1 for H. bacteriophora, respectively. Also, the median lethal time (LT50) values for each nematode species against the larvae and adults of X. luteola were 44.51 and 22.23 h for S. feltiae, 50.78 and 36.17 h for S. carpocapsae, and 67.64 and 34.71 h for H. bacteriophora, respectively. The S. feltiae nematode was the most effective species in controlling the larvae and adults of the elm leaf beetle, X. luteola. Based on these and other results, the research could be expanded on the prospects of using entomopathogenic nematodes, especially S. feltiae, in managing of the elm leaf beetle, X. luteola.