Biological control of Temnorhynchus baal (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) attacking Egyptian golf courses using entomopathogenic nematodes

Hussein, ’Mona A.; El Halafawy, Adel; Khalifa, Hassan M. S.; Mohamed, Hamdy Ahmed

doi:10.21608/ajar.2025.351739.1396

Biological control of Temnorhynchus baal (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) attacking Egyptian golf courses using entomopathogenic nematodes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Pests & Plant Protection Department, Agricultural & Biological Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.

² Plant Protection Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

³ Plant Protection Department, Fac. of Agriculture. Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

⁴ Plant Protection Department, Fac. of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University

10.21608/ajar.2025.351739.1396

Abstract

Background and aim: This study is the first to report the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against Temnorhynchus baal, a significant pest of golf courses in Egypt. Golf tourism has been recently introduced to Egypt, and this sport represents a valuable addition to the country's tourism portfolio, aligning with the growing global demand. EPNs have been successfully commercialized as biocontrol agents for many Scarabaeidae species.
Methodology: Four different concentrations of nine different species and strains of EPNs were used against young and grown larvae of T. baal under laboratory conditions.
Results: Heterorhabditis marilatus and H. bacteriophora were notably effective in managing T. baal larvae. Moreover, data showed that Steinernema glaseri, S. riobravae, and S. carpocapsae (BA2) were more effective than S. carpocapsae (ALL) in controlling the larvae of T. baal. Each strain demonstrated the capability of providing greater than 90% mortality, The range of mortality for S. glaseri and S. riobravae was 80-100% and 60-90% for S. carpocapsue (All) for young larvae of T. baal while the mortality % ranged between 60-90% and 50-80% for the same strains, for grown larvae of T. baal.
Conclusion: This study provides a broad understanding for the ability of selected native and foreign species of EPNs in attacking a serious pest of golf course. EPNs could play a promising role in controlling golf course pests successfully and could be incorporated into an IPM program.

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