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ViewAttendees 2

10-Minute Paper

Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

PBT: Risk Assessment and Applied Toxicology

Orchard scale trials for using entomopathogenic nematodes to control flathead borers

Wednesday, November 8, 2023
4:18 PM – 4:30 PM ET
Location: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor 10
In-Person
The Flatheaded Appletree Borer (Chrysobothris femorata, Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a pest of orchard and ornamental trees. The larvae cause damage which can severely impact the productivity or marketability of young trees, and can exacerbate other causes of poor tree health. C. femorata, like other wood boring pests, can be difficult to manage due to their cryptic lifestyle. Many traditional chemical insecticides cannot reach insects under the bark of a tree. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) can target insects in these cryptic habitats due to their ability to move through the environment after application. In Vitro laboratory assays using five species of EPNs have shown that C. femorata larvae are susceptible to these generalist entomopathogens.

EPNs Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema riobrave were deployed in field trials in a maple nursery and walnut orchard. S. carpocapsae nematodes significantly reduced the damage seen in fruiting walnut trees. This paper will discuss these results along with planned future studies using alternative formulations to improve EPN survival and EPN pheromones to enhance dispersal of the entomopathogens.