Abstract
Entomopathogenic nematodes in the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae are effective in the control of a wide range of soil-inhabiting insects occupying cryptic habitats. Recent field tests for commercialization with nematode-based products, for instance Steinernema carpocapsae against to hunting billbug, Sphenophrus venatus vestitus (turf), lawn grass cutworm, Spodoptera depravata (do.), bluegrass webworm, Parapediasia teterrella (do.), black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (do.), black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (potted flowers), common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (strawberry), S. glaseri to white grubs (turf.) and S. kushidai towhite grubs (do.) showed favorable results. Preliminary trials of S. carpocapsae on sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius (sweet potato), the west Indian sweet potato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (do.) and of S. feltiae on darkwinged fungus gnats, Lycoriella mali (mushroom) have been conducted. Hunting billbug is an exotic insect pest from the U.S. and entered Japan in the 1970's. This insect has now spread to over 400 of the 2000 Japanese golf courses. This is not a serious pest in the U.S., but it causes severe damage for Japanese lawngrass (Zoysia grass). In 1993 Biosafe® (S. carpocapsae) was registered for turf pest control in Japan and is very effective against larvae of the hunting billbug compared with chemical insecticides.
