Kapranas, Apostolos and Malone, Ben and Quinn, Sarajane and Mc Namara, Louise and Williams, Christopher D. and O'Tuama, Padraig and Peters, Arne and Griffin, Christine (2017) Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes for control of large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis: effects of soil type, pest density and spatial distribution. Journal of Pest Science, 90 (2). pp. 495-505. ISSN 1612-4758

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Abstract

The large pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.), LPW, is a major pest of trees in replanted coniferous forests in northern Europe. The use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) applied against developing stages for population suppression is increasingly recognized as an effective alternative to plant protection using chemical pesticides. Here, we report results from a series of trials we conducted over 2 years using two species of EPN, Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) and Heterorhabitis downesi (Stock, Griffin, and Burnell) with different foraging strategies. Trials were conducted at lodgepole pine sites in Ireland on both mineral and peat soil type. EPN suspension was applied to the stumps of felled pine trees, and EPN efficacy was determined afterwards by directly assessing parasitism rates after debarking one quarter of the stumps and by collecting emerging adult weevils from traps erected over other treated and control stumps. Our results suggest that both species of EPN are equally effective in suppressing LPW populations to below the current, informal thresholds of economic damage. EPN were equally efficient in controlling LPW in peat and in mineral (lithosols/regosols and acid brown earth/brown podzolics) soils. Weevil density and distribution within pine stumps in peat versus mineral sites can explain patterns of LPW parasitism and suppression. Our results also suggest that infestation level (number of weevils per stump) can be an important factor in forecasting EPN application success as there is evidence of negative density-dependent parasitism when weevil densities were high.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Forest pest; Root-feeding insect; Entomopathogenic nematodes; Foraging strategy; Soil type; Density-dependent parasitism;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
Item ID:	11553
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0823-y
Depositing User:	Dr. Christine Griffin
Date Deposited:	01 Nov 2019 14:45
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Pest Science
Publisher:	Springer
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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