Chroniodiplogaster aerivora(Cobb) (Rhabditida: Diplogasteridae), a natural enemy of white grubs,PhyllophagaHarris (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

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Abstract
Chroniodiplogaster aerivora (Cobb) was isolated from immature pest June beetles Phyllophaga spp., in southern Quebec. The natural occurrence of the entomogenous nematode in the damaging grub stage of the beetle was frequent and widespread in the study area. Laboratory and small field plot infectivity tests, and behavioral studies confirmed the parasitic nature of the nematode. It was successfully maintained in cold storage for 22 months and was easily cultured on nutrient agar supplemented with grub tissues. A modified Baermann funnel was efficient in extracting large numbers of live C. aerivora from infected grubs. Chroniodiplogaster aerivora demonstrated sufficient tolerance to environmental factors for it to be retested on a larger scale and even considered for field control of Phyllophaga and possibly other scarabaeid beetles.