Efficacy evaluation of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora against click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Abstract: The efficacy of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora was evaluated in the control of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae). The species of harmful insects, responsible for the damage, are Agriotes lineatus, A. obscurus, A. sputator and A. gurgistanus in many European regions. The efficiency of H. bacteriophora was tested against different stages of click beetle of the species A. gurgistanus-wireworms, pupae and adults in the laboratory. H. bacteriophora with 100% mortality has been shown to be pathogenic towards wireworms. We also evaluated the effect of nematode infection on wireworm’s organism and studied histological changes of the fatty tissues.