Biological control potential of native entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) against Spodoptera cilium (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in turfgrass.

In laboratory studies, we demonstrated that five native entomopathogenic nematode species/isolates caused 100% mortality ofSpodoptera ciliumlarvae, a soil surface-feeding pest of turfgrass. At 25 infective juveniles/cm2applied to sod, two selected Turkish species,Steinernema carpocapsaeandHeterorhabditis bacteriophora(Sarigerme isolate), averaged 77% and 29% larval mortality, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]