Are entomopathogenic nematodes effective biological control agentsagainst the cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus [L.])?

Abstract: The efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) in controlling Oulema melanopuson winter wheat was tested in a field experiment. A Slovenian strain of Steinernema carpocapsae(C101) was compared with the commercial product NemasysC and the insecticide thiametoxam.The highest yield was obtained when thiametoxam was used (7.3 ± 0.13t ha-1), while the lowestyield was in the control treatment (5.6 ± 0.16t ha-1). In treatments with EPN we determinedstatistically significant differences between both strains. Weaker response was recorded for thecommercial strain NemasysC (low nematode concentration: 5.96 ± 0.05t ha-1; high conc.: 6.1 ±0.15t ha-1), while the Slovenian strain provided higher results (low conc.: 6.6 ± 0.14t ha-1; highconc.: 6.8 ± 0.2t ha-1). In the field experiment different EPN concentration did not result instatistically significant differences in wheat yield.Observing the population dynamics of the pest,it has become apparent that EPN are effective biological agent in controlling cereal leaf beetle.