On Sun, Apr 10, 2011 at 2:21 AM, Juanse Barros <[log in to unmask]> >In the wax moth larvae they grow an entomopatogenic nematode, that is latter > released in the field to find another larvae (hopefully the burrito one) to > keep on reproducing. > > <http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=4959> > I did not get many hits when I searched nematode control of this pests, except one paper from a Gonzalez at the Univ. of Chile (in Spanish). But got this: * * *Curculionidae*.--Adults of *Naupactus* *xanthographus* (Germar) consume grape buds and leaves in Chile (Gonzalez 1983). Damage also occurs when feces adheres to foliage and fruit clusters. Combined damage by adult and larval feeding on roots weaken vines. A complex of pathogens (bacteria, fungi), nematodes and insects attack larvae and pupae in the soil. A nematode of the family Rhabditidae parasitizes 4th-5th instars. The same nematode attacks other Coleoptera and can be reared on wax moth larvae, * Galleria* *melonella* (L.). Gonzalez (1983) reported that larvae are often attacked by nematodes that are transported in irrigation water, but the degree of control was not evaluated. Of importance as a natural enemy is * Platystasius* sp (*Fidiobia* sp.). Up to 60% of the egg masses under the bark can be attacked. Gonzalez (1983) reported that its action in conjunction with the complex of other natural enemies is sufficient to keep *N*. *xanthographus* below the economic threshold. *Otiorhynchus* *sulcatus* (F.), the black vine weevil, is important in horticultural crops in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Adults seriously damage berry pedicels and cluster stems and larvae feed on roots in Europe and central Washington (Bedding & Miller 1981). The application of aqueous suspensions of infective juvenile *Heterorhabditis* * heliothidis* (Khan, Brooks & Hirschmann) to the soil resulted in up to 100% parasitism of larvae of *O*. *sulcatus* in potted grapes in nurseries. Pupae and newly emerged adults were also parasitized. *Steinernema* *bibionis*(Bovien) was found less effective. end quote Since o.sulcatus is an important pest in Canada, I am interested to know more about raising nematodes. Could you give a little more information please on how the culture of the nematodes is done and how they are applied. Is the ditch around the blueberry field (the "moat") also for burrito control? Stan *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm