An Assessment of Steinernema rarum as a Biocontrol Agent in Sugarcane with Focus on Sphenophorus levis, Host-Finding Ability, Compatibility with Vinasse and Field Efficacy

In Brazil, countless insect species attack and damage sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), which is an extremely important crop since it planted on more than 10 million hectares. Among these insects, the billbug, Sphenophorus levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), of great importance as larvae open tunnels in rhizome plant, causing high losses. This attracted mainly to vinasse, liquid fraction generated from alcohol production discarded onto fields for fertigation. Toward a novel control method S. levis, native entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema rarum (Pam 25) was compared with carpocapsae (IL 1) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (HBEN01) respect their ability search two hosts (Galleria mellonella levis) within cane rhizome. The selected also assessed rate effects, its survival vinasse field efficacy pests Hyponeuma taltula (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) Leucothyreus alvarengai Melolonthidae). exhibited superior virulence G. inserted into rhizomes (75–78% mortality) (30–53%) H. (18–28%). Vinasse affected when infective juveniles were suspended compost 6 h but did not affect kept straw soil treated compost. tested at 1–3 × 108 juveniles/ha caused 74.1, 56.3 50.6% L. taltula, respectively.