Potential efficacy of Iranian isolates of <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> and <i>Steinernema feltiae</i> on <i>Pieris brassicae</i> (Lepidoptera:Pieridae)
In a regional survey, native entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterothabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema feltiae isolates, collected from soil samples in Kurdistan province in Iran were applied against the 4th and 5th instars of cabbage butterfly larvae. The experiments were performed on both filter paper and cabbage leaves. Bioassay experiments on filter paper were conducted at two temperatures, 25°C and 30°C. LC50 values for H. bacteriophora on filter paper at 25°C and 30°C against the 4th instars were 85.4 and 66.7 IJ per insect, respectively; however, these values for S. feltiae were 96.2 and 66.0 IJ per insect. LC50 values for H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae were defined as 44.2 and 54.2 IJ per cabbage butterfly 4th instars, respectively.