The Efficiency of Aboriginal Entomopathogenic Nematodes from Semi-Arid Zone Against Tenebrionidae Larvae with Comparison to Commercial Bio-Insecticides

Dauren Kaliaskar (1) LLP “Scientific-Analytical Center “Biomedpreparat”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan 2) LLP “EcoSave”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan)
Aigerim Shibaeva (LLP “Scientific-Analytical Center “Biomedpreparat”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan)
Nariman Zhappar (1) LLP “Scientific-Analytical Center “Biomedpreparat”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan 2) LLP “EcoSave”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan)
Valentin Shaikhutdinov (1) LLP “Scientific-Analytical Center “Biomedpreparat”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan 2) LLP “EcoSave”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan)
Laura Asherbekova (1) LLP “Scientific-Analytical Center “Biomedpreparat”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan 2) LLP “EcoSave”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhsta)
Sayakhat Bekbulatov (LLP “EcoSave”, 3 microdistrict-9, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region 021500, Kazakhstan)
Almagul Kalyaskarova (LLP “Agro Lab”, Gabit Musrepov 36, Petropavlovsk, North Kazakhstan Region 150000, Kazakhstan)

AGRIVITA, Journal of Agricultural Science
Vol 44, No 3 (2022)

Chemical insecticides are intensively used in agriculture which cause negative effects on environmental sustainability by increasing pest tolerance and continuous action on local fauna. In contrast to chemical insecticides, biological insecticides target specific pests, minimizing their impact on the surrounding environment. However, most of the natural insecticides available in the market are expensive for farmers in the Central Asian region. This study is the first evidence of the effectiveness of local entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) from the arid zone of northern Kazakhstan that can be used as an alternative to export EPN products. The laboratory experiment is conducted with two local and two commercial Steinernema feltiae and Steinernema carpocapsae, which are applied to larvae of Tenebrionidae. The experiment design is randomized with four doses of EPN (100, 200, 300, and 400 IJ/cm2) and a control (without EPN). According to the experiment results, one out of two local EPNs (AF29 at dose 100 IJ/cm2) caused a high mortality rate (67%) among larvae. This finding confirms that local EPNs can compete with commercial EPNs and potentially be used as insecticidal agents.