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Entomopathogenic nematodes to control the hibiscus bud weevil Anthonomus testaceosquamosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), above ground and on soil surface

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Abstract

The hibiscus bud weevil (HBW), Anthonomus testaceosquamosus, is a pest of tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). Chemical insecticides are currently used for its management, but environmentally friendly alternatives are needed. In laboratory evaluations, five commercially available entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema carpocapsae, S. kraussei, S. feltiae, and S. riobrave) were evaluated. Infested flower buds with either first, second, or third instar larvae were treated with a rate of approximately 500 infective juveniles (IJs) per bud. Two EPN species were selected for further evaluation in greenhouse experiments due to a high larval mortality (S. carpocapsae and S. feltiae). EPNs, alone or with a fire gel that served as a protectant, were applied to HBW-infested plants using a rate of approximately 500,000 IJ m−2. The effects of foliage-directed applications were also studied in relation to infested fallen buds. There were no effects of the fire gel, but S. carpocapsae showed high HBW larval mortality in both foliage and fallen buds. In a subsequent greenhouse experiment, different rates of S. carpocapsae were tested, including a rate of approximately 428,525 IJ m−2 and 75%, 50%, and 25% of that initial rate. Effects on larval mortality were rate-dependent with no difference observed between the full rate and 75% of this rate, making the latter rate a cost-effective alternative. This study demonstrates that S. carpocapsae can infect developing HBW larvae inside hibiscus flower buds at the canopy and soil surface levels, where fallen infested buds are usually free of control.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Catharine Mannion, Maria Alejandra Canon, Jose Alegria and Milton Najar for supporting this work. We also thank Simon Riley from the UF/IFAS Statistical Consulting Unit for statistical advice. Our appreciation also goes to the Florida Nursery and Landscape Association Miami-Dade Chapter, the Miami-Dade County Agricultural Manager’s Office, Railroad Nursery and Nature’s Way Farms. This research was funded by the National Horticulture Foundation (Award ID: AGR DTD 01-17-2020), the USDA ARS-UF Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement No. 58-6038-3-002, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 21SCBPFL1022 (Contract #28486). The findings and conclusions in this publication have not been formally disseminated by the US Department of Agriculture and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy. The mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA and UF/IFAS.; USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, USA, Florida, 33031

    German Vargas & Alexandra M. Revynthi

  2. Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL, 33031, USA

    Yisell Velazquez-Hernandez

  3. School of Natural Sciences, High Point University, 1 N University Pkwy, High Point, NC, 27268, USA

    A. Daniel Greene

  4. Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, USDA-ARS, 13601 Old Cutler Rd, Miami, FL, 33158, USA

    Xiangbing Yang

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  1. German Vargas
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  5. Alexandra M. Revynthi
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Correspondence to German Vargas.

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Vargas, G., Velazquez-Hernandez, Y., Daniel Greene, A. et al. Entomopathogenic nematodes to control the hibiscus bud weevil Anthonomus testaceosquamosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), above ground and on soil surface. BioControl 69, 91–101 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-024-10242-9

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