IMPACT OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES ON DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE PUMPKIN FLY, DACUS CILIATUS (LOEW) AS A NEW APPROACH IN ITS BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

The infectivity of two steinernematid entomopathogenicnematodes, namely Steinernema carpocapsae All and Steinernemariobravae (Weiser,1955) Poinar and one species of heterorhabditnematode , eterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar on the leapinglarvae, pupae and adults of the pumpkin fly, Dacus ciliatus (Loew)(Diptera: Tephritidae) was evaluated. The obtained datademonstrated that D. ciliatus larvae were very susceptible tonematodes, especially for S. riobravae than S. carpocapsae or H.bacteriophora. The parasitism rate followed by death rangedbetween 9.93% to 93.33%. D. ciliatus pupae and adults in thecontrary were susceptible to H. bacteriophora than the other twosteinernematid nematodes S. riofravae and S. carpocapsae.Theparasitism rate followed by death ranged from 6.33% to 90.00%and from 11.10% to 91.13% for pupae and adults, respectively.