Efficiency of Entomopathogenic Nematodes Applied to Larvae and Pupae of Spodoptera Cosmioides (Walker, 1858) (Lepidotera: Noctuidae) Under Laboratory and Greenhouse Conditions.

This study evaluated entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) as a control strategy of Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker, 1858) (Lepidotera: Noctuidae) under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In the laboratory, 18 EPNs isolates were used on S. cosmioides larvae, and different concentrations were evaluated in larvae and pupae. The production capacity of nematodes on S. cosmioides as a host and the effect of nematodes on decreased leaf consumption were also evaluated. The efficacy of nematodes in controlling S. cosmiodes larvae and pupae after foliar application was evaluated in a greenhouse. The most virulent isolates in S. cosmioides larvae were UEL08 (90%) and IBCB10 (92%), both from the Heterorhabditis amazonensis species, and IBCB06 (95%) ( Steinernema brazilense ) and IBCB02 ( Steinernema carpocapsae ) (97.5%). The most effective concentration for the isolates evaluated was 200 Infective Juveniles (IJ)/larvae. The isolates UEL08 and IBCB02 caused the highest mortality in pupal stage, and they were also capable of multiplying and completing their life cycle using S. cosmioides as a host. Soybean leaf consumption by S. cosmioides larvae was reduced by 64% with larvae infected by UEL08 and by 62% with larvae infected by IBCB02. In the greenhouse, isolates UEL08 and IBCB06 caused 85% and 95% mortality in larvae and 50% and 57.5% mortality in pupae, respectively. We conclude that EPNs have the potential to control S. cosmioides , but further studies evaluating the survival of these agents after aerial application and in field trials should be considered.