41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology
and 9th International Conference on Bacillus thuringiensis

Using entomopathogenic nematodes in IPM programmes is common, even in intensive Spanish greenhouse production. Delivery of viable EPN to the target is critical for above ground application, where drenching techniques are not feasible. Growers want to use existing pesticide application equipment, which involves large tanks, recirculation and filtering systems with mechanical pumps, some of which can reduce EPN viability. EPN have been shown to be particularly resilient when used with pesticide application equipment. However, for an application of EPN to a crop to be successful they must be delivered to the correct location within the crop canopy, to allow them to locate the pest on the plant. In the warm dry conditions of southern Europe this can be a problem, as the carrier water evaporates rapidly. Although a number of EPN have been shown to successfully control a wide range of arthropods under laboratory conditions, the next step to deployment in the field can often fail. The problems of achieving successful application and delivery strategies for optimising EPN survival and pest control will be discussed, including targeting and timing the application to minimise water volumes required, a key factor in developing successful and economical IPM programmes for the grower.