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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411611
Research Project: Novel Approaches for Managing Key Pests of Peach and Pecan

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biological Control Agents

Author
item Shapiro Ilan, David
item LEWIS, EDWIN - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2024
Publication Date: 10/8/2024
Citation: Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Lewis, E.E. 2024. Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biological Control Agents. CABI Publishing. Wallingford, UK. 554 pp. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800620322.0000.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800620322.0000

Interpretive Summary: Entomopathogenic nematodes, also known as beneficial nematodes, are small round worms that are used as natural biopesticides. These worms control a wide array of economically important pests in various cropping systems. The nematodes have a fascinating biology and life-cycle; the little worms kill insects with the help of a symbiotic partner - a bacterium that lives in the nematode gut and is released into the insect. It has been 18 years since a comprehensive book on using beneficial nematodes to kill insect pests has been published. This new volume covers the application of beneficial nematodes for biological pest control in different crops. The book also presents research advances in nematode production, formulation and application technology as well as new discoveries concerning the nematode's biology and ecology. The book will be a highly useful resource for scientists of various disciplines including entomology, biological control, ecology, and nematology.

Technical Abstract: Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are biocontrol agents that are used to control a wide variety of insect pests in diverse cropping systems. In addition to their utility as bio-pesticides, EPNs have a fascinating biology and are thus considered model organisms in ecology, symbiosis and pathogenesis. The objective of this book is to provide a comprehensive treatment and analysis of EPNs as biocontrol agents including their biology, ecology, and application in various cropping systems or other arenas. It has been 18 years since the first edition (Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents) was released. During that period more than 1500 scientific articles have been published on EPNs . Clearly, a lot of research has been added to the field. This new edition incorporates the substantial advances made over the years across all disciplines associated with EPNs. Novel advances in insect immunity, genomics, and survival mechanisms are presented as well as new developments in nematode production, formulation and application technology.