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Tab. 1
Treatments Average Earthworm
mortality at 7 days
130
Average Earthworm
mortality at 14 days
Steinernema feltiae UK 6,67 % 6,67 %
S. kraussei N0093 20,00 % 20,00 %
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora NJ 0,00 % 0,00 %
Control 33,33 % 33,33 %
Mortality of the Insect Tenebrio molitor and the non-insects Millipedes and Scorpions challenged with
entomopathogenic nematodes (see Tab. 2) revealed as follows: the effect of nematodes is not different from the
control in Millipedes (P=0,66) and in Scorpions (P=1)
Tab. 2
Treatments Tenebrio molitor
larvae (insects)
mortality
Millipedes
(non-insects)
mortality
Scorpions
(non-insects)
mortality
S. kraussei N0093 73,33 % 0,00 % 0,00 %
H. bacteriophora NJ 86,67 % 0,00 % 0,00 %
S. sp. N0166 73,33 % 0,00% 0,00 %
S. sp. N0167 93,33 % 0,00 % 0,00 %
S. sp. N0168 40,00 % 0,00 % 0,00 %
H. sp. N0169 6,67 % 11,11 % 0,00 %
H. sp. N0170 96,67 % 11,11 % 0,00 %
Control 0,00 % 11,11 % 0,00 %
Conclusions and Discussion
Unlike other microbial pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, viruses and fungi, entomopathogenic
nematodes are exempt from registration in the USA and other countries.Currently, all available evidence
(bibliography) indicates that beneficial nematodes and their associated bacteria have no negative impact on nontarget
organisms in the agrarian environment (Akhurst 1990; Georgis et al., 1991).
Entomopathogenic nematodes have the ability to discriminate among suitable and not suitable different potential
hosts.
Recent experiments (see above), demonstrated that while different strains of entomopathogenic nematodes were
lethal to insect larvae (Tenebrio molitor), did not infect non-target organisms such as Heartworms, Scorpions and
Millipedes.
In conclusion entomopathogenic nematodes are safe to humans and to non-target organisms, non-polluting and
thus environmentally safe and acceptable.
Acknowledgment
This research was partially founded by MURST grant Cluster C06-07 L. 488-92
References:
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