Biocontrol of leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina L. (Lep.: Cossidae) usingentomopathogenic nematodes in Iran

Abstract: Walnuts produced in the Juglans region is among Iran's strategic products and theLeopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina L. (Lep.: Cossidae) is the key pest of this tree. Difficulty inchemical application against this caterpillar and special habitats of its larvae encouraged us toaddress efficiency of some entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against different larval stages.Native isolates of EPNs were isolated from soil habitats of this pest in Arak, Markazi province,Iran. Using ITS and D2/D3 expansions of 28S sequences they were identified as Heterorhabditisbacteriophora, Steinernema feltiae and S. carpocapsae. In laboratory assays,the susceptibility ofsecond, third and fourth larval stages to commercial products of S. carpocapsae andH. bacteriophora, and native strain of H. bacteriophora were studied. For field application, bothstrains were used via injection of nematode suspensions into the galleries bored in tree stems orbranches. This study showed that both tested nematodes at 2,000 IJs/larva proved to be effectiveon Z. pyrina. The results indicated the higher efficiency of S. carpocapsae as compared toH. bacteriophora on larvae of this moth.