CAN THE RETURN TO THE NATURAL CONDITIONS OF IN VIVO PARASITIZATION INCREASE THE INFECTIVITY PERFORMANCE OF EPNS?

Experiments are in progress in Apulian asparagus fields for the control of Parahypopta caestrum (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) with microbial control agents (MCAs), mainly entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi. Different bioassays were carried out in laboratory and field conditions to prove the efficacy of native and commercial strains of the EPNs Steinernema feltiae (Filipijev), S. carpocapsae (Rhabditida, Steinernematidae) and Heterorhanditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae), and EPF Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. (Hypocreales, Cordycipitaceae). Among the field experiments, one was planned with the release of Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) cadavers previously infected with native strains of EPN Steinernema feltiae and the comparison was carried out with a commercial strain of the same nematode species.