| The entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis HL-81 strain was studied for its efficacy to control the black vine weevil (BVW) Otiorhynchus sulcatus an important pest in agriculture and horticulture fields. The overall results showed that the nematode is an ideal biological control agent against the BVW. The nematode was capable of parasatizing and killing insect larvae located at 5 cm and 9 cm depth. Early instar larvae were less susceptible to HL-81 when compared to mature larvae, demonstrating the importance of timing of application. Most importantly, the efficacy of HL-81 was comparable to the standard insecticide Orthene. The future prospect of utilizing HL-81 against BVW is discussed. |
