Foliar Application of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Cereal Leaf Beetle Oulema melanopus L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Wheat

Cereal monocultures are very susceptible to many pests, especially those living on leaves, which largely affects yield by decreasing its quality. The most dangerous of them is the cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus L.). In cases heavy infestation larvae, surface plants may be reduced 50%, and sometimes even 80%, with a main loss 10–25%. aim presented study was assess efficiency native isolate Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) commercial preparation Larvanem (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1975)) in controlling larvae O. melanopus, reduce crops damage field. Nematodes were applied dosage 2 million IJs/m2 as suspension 11 litres per square metre. A hand sprinkler field lance flat-stream nozzles used for applications at lowest working pressure 3000 hPa. effectiveness both nematode species moderate: 47.8% S. 49.5% H. bacteriophora. biggest reduction found treated preparation, where index infection 32%, being more than twofold smaller that control.