LABORATORY AND FIELD EVALUATION OF NEOAPLECTANA CARPOCAPSAE (RHABDITIDA: STEINERNEMATIDAE) AGAINST THE ELM LEAF BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) AND THE WESTERN SPRUCE BUDWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

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Abstract
Laboratory studies showed that elm leaf beetle, Pyrrhalta luteola (Müller), larvae and pupae were susceptible to the nematode Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser; adults were less likely to be infected because of their dispersal ability. Spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, larvae were susceptible to the nematode in the laboratory. Field application of the nematode in 2% aqueous Volck oil suspension against elm leaf beetle or spruce budworm larvae did not significantly reduce the populations when compared with controls. Desiccation of the infective nematodes may be a factor in the variable results for elm leaf beetle, and cool temperatures and rain may have been factors in the poor results for spruce budworm. However, significant population reduction occurred in nematode treatments against elm leaf beetle pupae in litter. This nematode may be used against beetle pupae in conjunction with other control tactics.