Field application of entomopathogenic nematodes to control black cutworm in turf grasses

Commercial products of the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Hb), H. megidis (Hm), Steinernema carpocapsae (Sc), S. feltiae (Sf), and S. riobrave (Sr) were evaluated for control of black cutworm (BCW), Agrotis ipsilon, larvae. Under laboratory conditions in incubators, the EPN were screened against different BCW larval stages under different temperature regimes mimicking average day/night temperatures in New Jersey when the three BCW generations occur. Generally, fifth and fourth instars were more susceptible to most EPN species than third and sixth instars but the effect varied somewhat with EPN species. Hb and Sc controlled BCW larvae under most of the temperature regimes while Sf and Sr were among the top performing species under low and high temperature conditions, respectively. The results of ongoing field experiments under various field conditions will also be presented.