The effect of Xenorhabdus bacteria metabolites on Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) adult feeding and larval survival.

Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) is one of the most destructive potato pests that can quickly develop resistance to insecticides. Therefore, new safe and effective control strategies that are less susceptible to the development of resistance by CPB are urgently needed. Due to their complex mode of action, the likelihood of resistance development by target pests is generally low with antifeedants.

The use of Phasmarhabditis nematodes and metabolites of Xenorhabdus bacteria in slug control.

Many species of slugs are considered serious pests in agriculture and horticulture around the world. In Europe, slugs of the genera Arion and Deroceras are the most harmful pests in agriculture. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the whole-cell metabolites of 10 strains of five Xenorhabdus and three slug-parasitic nematodes (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, Phasmarhabditis bohemica, and Phasmarhabditis apuliae) on the feeding behaviour and repellent effect on target slugs and evaluate a new possible means of biocontrol of these pests.

Efficacy of the Applied Natural Enemies on the Survival of Colorado Potato Beetle Adults.

Colorado potato beetle is among the most destructive pests of potatoes quickly developing resistance to traditional insecticides. In the present study, we tested the effect of various species and strains of entomopathogenic nematodes on CPB adults, and subsequently, the most effective nematodes were applied alone and in combination with entomopathogenic fungus in pots with potato plants and in the field and their effect on the number of emerging adults was evaluated. In the experimental infections, both the nematode invasion and pathogenicity were variable, and, in several strains, the mortality reached 100%.

Dissemination of Spores by and .

Entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi are globally distributed soil organisms that are frequently used as bioagents in biological control and integrated pest management. Many studies have demonstrated that the combination of biocontrol agents can increase their efficacy against target hosts. In our study, we focused on another potential benefit of the synergy of two species of nematodes, and and the fungus .

Phylogenetic evidence for the invasion of a commercialized European Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita lineage into North America and New Zealand.

Biological control (biocontrol) as a component of pest management strategies reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals, and seemingly offers a natural approach that minimizes environmental impact. However, introducing a new organism to new environments as a classical biocontrol agent can have broad and unanticipated biodiversity effects and conservation consequences. Nematodes are currently used in a variety of commercial biocontrol applications, including the use of Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita as an agent targeting pest slug and snail species.

Occurrence of Rhabditid Nematodes in the Pet Giant African Land Snails ().

Gastropods comprise nearly 60,000 species of aquatic as well as terrestrial mollusks, primarily snails and slugs. The giant African land snail () is one of the most popular pet snails worldwide. This gastropod mollusk is known as the intermediate host of several parasites that cause severe diseases in pets, free-ranging vertebrates, and humans.

Molecular detection and quantification of slug parasitic nematodes from the soil and their hosts.

Terrestrial gastropod molluscs are widely distributed and are well known as pests of many types of plants that are notoriously difficult to control. Many species of nematodes are able to parasitize land snails and slugs, but few of them are lethal to their host. Species and/or populations of mollusc-parasitic nematodes (MPNs) that kill their hosts are promising for biological control purposes.

New record of Steinernema arenarium (Artyukhovsky) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) from Ukraine and a note on its distribution.

During a survey of the biodiversity of entomopathogenic nematodes in Ukraine, a population of Steinernema arenarium, strain Ch, was recovered in the sensitive Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. In the present work, this strain was morphologically and molecularly characterised using light microscopy and the sequences of the ITS and D2-D3 region of the 28S rDNA. In addition, we sequenced the ITS and D2-D3 regions of four populations of S.

n. sp. (Nematoda: Alloionematidae): a new alloionematid from USA.

A new species of the family Alloionematidae was isolated from a rotten winged gourd at White Crane Garden, San Francisco, USA, sampled by Christopher Nelson in November 2010, and a live culture is deposited in Félix Lab Strain Database (http://www.justbio.com/worms/index.

Phasmarhabditis bonaquaense n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae), a new slug-parasitic nematode from the Czech Republic.

Phasmarhabditis bonaquaense n. sp. is described and illustrated from the body of Malacolimax tenellus, from the locality of České Švýcary near the village of Dobrá Voda, the Czech Republic.

n. sp., a New Entomopathogenic Nematode (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) from South Africa.

A new species of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), n. sp., was isolated from a maize field in Senekal, Free State Province of South Africa.

Steinernema goweni n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from Zulia State, Venezuela.

A nematode from the genus Steinernema was isolated in Zulia state (North-western, Venezuela). Morphological, morphometric and molecular studies indicated that this nematode belongs to the "bicornutum" group and is described herein as Steinernema goweni n. sp.

The significance of the tail projections in female entomopathogenic nematodes within the family Steinernematidae.

Several taxonomic studies of the entomopathogenic nematode family Steinernematidae have reported on the minute tail projections on the tail tips of females of the first generation; however, the occurrence and morphology of these traits in other steinernematid species and their taxonomic significance are still unclear. In the present study, the tail projections in females of seven steinernematid species belonging to four phylogenetic clades were examined. The projections are present in all of the tested species and their number and shape is consistent within species but significantly differs among species.

Steinernema pwaniensis n. sp., a new entomopathogenic nematode (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) from Tanzania.

A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema pwaniensis n. sp., belonging to the glaseri group, is described from Tanzania.

Steinernema poinari sp. n. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) a new entomopathogenic nematode from the Czech Republic.

A new steinernematid nematode, herein described as Steinernema poinari sp. n., was recovered by baiting soil samples with the last instar wax moth larvae Galleria mellonella in three localities of southwest Bohemia, Czech Republic.