Mulches Used in Highbush Blueberry and Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affect Mortality Rates of Third-Instar <i>Popillia japonica</i>
<i>Popillia japonica</i> Newman (Japanese beetle) is an invasive, polyphagous pest in North America, as adults feed on plant foliage and larvae on roots. Management in crops relies on foliar and soil applications of insecticides, but entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are effective biocont...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/10/907 |
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| author | Justin M. Renkema Jean-Philippe Parent |
| author_facet | Justin M. Renkema Jean-Philippe Parent |
| author_sort | Justin M. Renkema |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Popillia japonica</i> Newman (Japanese beetle) is an invasive, polyphagous pest in North America, as adults feed on plant foliage and larvae on roots. Management in crops relies on foliar and soil applications of insecticides, but entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are effective biocontrol agents. In highbush blueberry, mulches (composts, woodshavings, sawdust, bark) are used for weed control and fertility. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effects of <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> and <i>Steinernema scarabaei</i> on third-instar <i>P. japonica</i> in substrates commonly used as mulches in blueberry. In containers in the laboratory, larval mortality was 90–100% with <i>H. bacteriophora</i> for all substrates, but rates with <i>S. scarabaei</i> were lower and variable among substrates. A mixture of municipal compost + woodchips/sawdust resulted in 60% larval mortality without adding EPN, but few nematodes were recovered, indicating other causes of death. In a field microplot experiment in October, larval mortality rates were 50% at most for all EPN and substrate type combinations, likely due to lower than optimal soil and substrate temperatures for EPN survival and infectivity. Overall, a compost and woodchip/sawdust mulch should help suppress <i>P. japonica</i> populations in blueberry, and applying <i>H. bacteriophora</i> when temperatures are optimal to mulches can provide excellent larval control. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:30:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2406e4591764307bb515e52c00acbbe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:30:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2406e4591764307bb515e52c00acbbe2023-11-22T18:39:25ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-10-01121090710.3390/insects12100907Mulches Used in Highbush Blueberry and Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affect Mortality Rates of Third-Instar <i>Popillia japonica</i>Justin M. Renkema0Jean-Philippe Parent1London Research and Development Centre—Vineland Campus, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 4902 Victoria Ave N, Vineland Station, ON L0R 2E0, CanadaCentre de Recherche et Développement de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 430 Boul Gouin, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC J3B 3E6, Canada<i>Popillia japonica</i> Newman (Japanese beetle) is an invasive, polyphagous pest in North America, as adults feed on plant foliage and larvae on roots. Management in crops relies on foliar and soil applications of insecticides, but entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are effective biocontrol agents. In highbush blueberry, mulches (composts, woodshavings, sawdust, bark) are used for weed control and fertility. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effects of <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> and <i>Steinernema scarabaei</i> on third-instar <i>P. japonica</i> in substrates commonly used as mulches in blueberry. In containers in the laboratory, larval mortality was 90–100% with <i>H. bacteriophora</i> for all substrates, but rates with <i>S. scarabaei</i> were lower and variable among substrates. A mixture of municipal compost + woodchips/sawdust resulted in 60% larval mortality without adding EPN, but few nematodes were recovered, indicating other causes of death. In a field microplot experiment in October, larval mortality rates were 50% at most for all EPN and substrate type combinations, likely due to lower than optimal soil and substrate temperatures for EPN survival and infectivity. Overall, a compost and woodchip/sawdust mulch should help suppress <i>P. japonica</i> populations in blueberry, and applying <i>H. bacteriophora</i> when temperatures are optimal to mulches can provide excellent larval control.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/10/907Japanese beetle<i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i><i>Steinernema scarabaei</i>biological controlcompostwoodchips |
| spellingShingle | Justin M. Renkema Jean-Philippe Parent Mulches Used in Highbush Blueberry and Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affect Mortality Rates of Third-Instar <i>Popillia japonica</i> Insects Japanese beetle <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> <i>Steinernema scarabaei</i> biological control compost woodchips |
| title | Mulches Used in Highbush Blueberry and Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affect Mortality Rates of Third-Instar <i>Popillia japonica</i> |
| title_full | Mulches Used in Highbush Blueberry and Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affect Mortality Rates of Third-Instar <i>Popillia japonica</i> |
| title_fullStr | Mulches Used in Highbush Blueberry and Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affect Mortality Rates of Third-Instar <i>Popillia japonica</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mulches Used in Highbush Blueberry and Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affect Mortality Rates of Third-Instar <i>Popillia japonica</i> |
| title_short | Mulches Used in Highbush Blueberry and Entomopathogenic Nematodes Affect Mortality Rates of Third-Instar <i>Popillia japonica</i> |
| title_sort | mulches used in highbush blueberry and entomopathogenic nematodes affect mortality rates of third instar i popillia japonica i |
| topic | Japanese beetle <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> <i>Steinernema scarabaei</i> biological control compost woodchips |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/10/907 |
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