DO PERSISTENT ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES APPLIED FOR WESTERN CORN ROOTWORM CONTROL NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE NON-TARGET SOIL FAUNA IN CORNFIELDS

The long-term goal of this effort is to mitigate potential negative effects and better understand the benefits of using persistent EPN strains for biocontrol. Our overall objective is to document potential non-target effects following broad-scale applications of persistent EPN strains across hundreds of thousands of acres for control of a single insect species. This objective will be addressed by applying two persistent EPN strains (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora + Steinernema feltiae) to continuous corn systems and monitoring selected beneficial and pest taxa.We will approach our overall objective through three specific objectives:Objective 1: Quantify the impact of persistent EPN strain applications on two non-target beneficial arthropod taxa, Carabidae and Araneae, found in continuous corn systems via pitfall trapsObjective 2: Quantify the impact of persistent EPN strain applications on non-target pest species found in continuous corn systems via artificial field infestations in emergence cagesObjective 3: Quantify effects of persistent EPN strain applications on native entomopathogenic nematode communities in continuous corn systems via genetic analyses