The weevil Phyrdenus muriceus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an emergent pest of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) crops in the humid Pampa of Argentina. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) constitute an effective and environmentally safe strategy within integrated pest management. The efficacy of a native EPN Heterorhabditis bacteriophora SUP isolate for the control of P. muriceus was evaluated. Larvae and adults were susceptible to the nematode in laboratory assays. Field evaluations indicated a slight reduction of P. muriceus populations, evidenced after a second application by a decrease of the foliar damage in the eggplant crops. Adults of P. muriceus parasitized by H. bacteriophora were observed in the field one month after the second application. The present study is the first assessment of EPNs against P. muriceus under field conditions, and the first report of their use in the humid Pampa, one of the major agricultural areas of Argentina.

中文翻译：

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使用天然昆虫病原线虫对阿根廷有机茄子作物中的象鼻Phyrdenus muriceus进行生物控制的田间测定

象鼻Phyrdenus muriceus Germar（鞘翅目：Curculionidae）是阿根廷潮湿的南美大草原上茄子（Solanum melongena L.）作物的一种新兴害虫。病原性线虫（EPN）在病虫害综合治理中构成了有效且对环境安全的策略。评估了天然EPN细菌性杂种优势细菌SUP分离物对P. muriceus的控制效果。在实验室检测中，幼虫和成虫易感染线虫。田间评估表明，P。muriceus种群略有减少，第二次施用后茄子作物的叶面损伤减少，证明了这一点。寄生的P. muriceus成虫第二次施用后一个月，在野外观察到了嗜血杆菌。本研究是在野外条件下首次针对鼠疫假单胞菌的EPNs评估，也是在潮湿的南美大草原（阿根廷的主要农业区之一）中使用它们的首次报道。