Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, Türkiye

Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, Türkiye

Cockroaches, particularly the German cockroach (<i>Blattella germanica</i> Linnaeus, Blattodea: Ectobiidae) and the American cockroach (<i>Periplaneta americana</i> (Linnaeus), Blattodea: Blattidae), are major public health pests due to their ability to transmit pathogens and...

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Main Authors: Aysegul Cengiz, Burak Polat, Sevval Kahraman Kokten, Ummuhan Aslan Bıckı, Cansu Calıskan, Samed Koc, Emre Oz, Serap Kocaoglu-Cenkci, Ozge Tufan-Cetin, Huseyin Cetin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
biological control
<i>Blattella germanica</i>
entomopathogenic nematodes
<i>Periplaneta americana</i>
pest management
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/655
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Summary:Cockroaches, particularly the German cockroach (<i>Blattella germanica</i> Linnaeus, Blattodea: Ectobiidae) and the American cockroach (<i>Periplaneta americana</i> (Linnaeus), Blattodea: Blattidae), are major public health pests due to their ability to transmit pathogens and develop resistance to chemical insecticides, including synthetic pyrethroids, which are widely used worldwide. Given the increasing resistance, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have emerged as a potential biological control alternative. This study evaluates the efficacy of three EPN species, <i>Steinernema carpocapsae</i> (Weiser), <i>S. feltiae</i> (Filipjev), and <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> Poinar, against <i>B. germanica</i> and <i>P. americana</i> collected from different regions of Antalya, Türkiye. Laboratory bioassays were conducted under controlled conditions, testing five EPN concentrations (100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 IJs/mL). The results showed that <i>S. carpocapsae</i> was the most effective, causing mortality rates of 46.7% to 100% in adult German cockroaches and 20% to 66.7% in nymphs, while <i>S. feltiae</i> and <i>H. bacteriophora</i> exhibited lower efficacy. American cockroaches showed higher resistance, with <i>S. carpocapsae</i> achieving a maximum mortality of 33.3% at the highest concentration, whereas <i>S. feltiae</i> and <i>H. bacteriophora</i> had no significant lethal effect. These findings suggest that <i>S. carpocapsae</i> could be a promising biological control agent for <i>B. germanica</i>, particularly in pyrethroid-resistant populations.
ISSN:2076-0817

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