Introduction of Entomogenous Nematodes into Trickle Irrigation Systems to Control Striped Cucumber Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)1

Infective juveniles of Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser were successfully recovered in a uniform distribution from both biwall and triwall trickle tube irrigation emitters, indicating that this method of nematode distribution may be feasible in controlling soil insects in irrigated vegetables. Heterorhabditts sp. and N. carpocapsae were both highly effective in laboratory experiments against striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.), larvae. Field tests, in which Heterorhabditis sp. infective juveniles were introduced manually and through trickle irrigation, were inconclusive due to low levels of striped cucumber beetles; however, the technique of application of nematodes through trickle irrigation should be more thoroughly tested.