Predators nematodes

Organisms used for pest control such as insect predators, nematodes, and macroscopic parasites do not fall within the scope of these guidelines as they are not considered biorationals and are exempt from FIFRA requirements. These organisms are subject to regulation by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA (APHIS) under the Plant Pest Act. 

Presumed defences deterrents against Mammalian, invertebrate and microbial predators Soil dwelling arthropods, nematodes, fiingi and bacteria... 

Most species of the genus are entomogenous, and many are synnematous. No comprehensive revision of the species has so far been published. A common nematode parasite is the mononematous II. rhossiliensis Minter B. L. Brady (Minter and Brady, 1980), a name that predates the synonymous H. heteroderae Sturhan R. Schneider 1980 by a few months. Phialides solitary, 18-33 X 3-5 pm, tapering to 0.5-0.7 pm conidia formed singly or in pairs on phialides, ellipsoidal with a more or less apiculate base and a voluminous persistent slime layer, 7-11 X 4.8-7.5 pm (measured including the slime). 

Zehr El. Evaluation of parasites and predators of plant parasitic nematodes. J Agric Entomol 2 130-134, 1985. 

HISTORIC OBSERVATIONS FOR NEMATODE PREDATION OF GRASSES AND AN ENDOPHYTE CONNECTION... 

In the soil habitat various forms of microbial predation are known. Protozoa prey on one another and also on bacteria, yeasts, algae, and some even on nematodes. The latter and other small animals also feed on bacteria. 

A number of fungi belonging to the Hyphomycetes and Zygomycetes trap soil nematodes, soil amoebae, and sometimes rotifers and subsequently invade and devour them. The members of the Zoopagales shed sticky conidia which adhere to the prey, usually an amoeba or other small soil animal, and put out germ tubes which penetrate into the body where a small thallus is formed. They are probably obligate predators [1]. 

The natural ecosystem maintains a delicate balance between pests and predators. Pest insects can be controlled by the artificial release of predators. One example is a parasitic wasp, Diadegma insulare. The adult female wasp lays eggs in a Plutella xylostella larva and pupates inside the cocoon of the mature larva. This and other insect predators are available commercially, but the usage is limited. Protozoa and nematodes are also used in insect pest control. One example of a protozoan that effectively infects locusts and controls the population is Nosema locustae. A commercially available nematode insect control agent is Steinemema carpocapsae. This nematode parasitizes scarab larvae with a symbiotic Photorhabdus bacterium that produces insecticidal toxins. 

Biopesticides include microbial living systems primarily based on bacteria, fungi and viruses. They may also include macro-organisms such as entomopathogenic nematodes, insect predators, and parasites. Biological pesticides may also include plant-derived metabolites as well as insect pheromones and most interestingly... 

Yeates, G.W., Foissner, W. (1995). Testate amebas as predators of nematodes. Biology and Fertility of Soils 20,1-7. 

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