Natural Enemies of Subterranean Diaprepes abbrevialus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larvae in Florida1

Abstract
A monthly survey of the subterranean natural enemies of Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) larvae was conducted from June 1979 through December 1980 in nine citrus groves and one ornamental nursery in central Florida. Four entomopathogenic fungi, Melarrhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Aspergillus ochraceous, and two entomogenous nematodes, Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser and Heterorhabditis sp. Poinar, were found active in the soil and infectious to D. abbreviatus larvae throughout the year. Fungus-infected larvae were most prevalent from May through July, whereas nematode parasitism was most predominant from May through November. In addition, a survey conducted in 55 citrus groves throughout Florida in August 1980 and again in February 1981 showed that 27.0 and 45.0%, respectively, had detectable populations of N. carpocapsae or Heterorhabditis sp., or both species.