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Member Symposium

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

Current Research and Future Challenges for Management of Corn Pests

Utilizing entomopathogenic nematodes for biological control of western corn rootworm

Sunday, November 10, 2024
9:05 AM – 9:20 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 127 A, PCC
Oral Presentation
The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is the most threatening pest to continuous corn in Nebraska. Larval stages feed on roots of corn plants which can cause significant damage and lodging of plants. Integrated pest management approaches for WCR include a combination of cultural, chemical, transgenic and biological control strategies; however, this pest has frequently evolved resistance. Potential biological control strategies include utilizing entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) found in the soil. Commercial EPN strains were applied to five on-farm research sites in west central Nebraska in May 2022 and their persistence and impact on WCR were evaluated for three growing seasons. To evaluate the persistence of EPNs in the soil, baiting assays were conducted to assess the nematode community using wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae. Although there was no significant difference between nematode applied and unapplied treatments, there was numerically higher larval mortality at 500-days post inoculation. Molecular identification of recovered EPNs indicates a diverse community of native EPNs in commercial corn fields. Yellow sticky cards, emergence cages, and root digs to assess root damage were utilized to determine the effect of EPNs on WCR. Results determined that there was no significant difference based on nematode treatment, but there were some numerical trends. These results provide information regarding the use of EPNs for biological control of WCR, ensuring the sustainability and economic viability of continuous corn production.