Susceptibility of Periplaneta brunnea (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) to the nematode Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae).

Brown cockroaches, Periplaneta brunnea Burmeister, were exposed to increasing population densities of the entomogenous nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser), All Strains. A total of 160 adult cockroaches were used, 40 for each of four treatments: 0, 3,000, 30,000, and 300,000 infective juveniles added to 50 cm3 of sand. Population densities of 30,000 and 300,000 infective juveniles per 50 cm3 sand were the most effective treatments, killing 55% of the P. brunnea. The highest population density of nematodes, 300,000 infective juveniles per 50 cm3 sand, killed 93% of the P. brunnea, and produced a more rapid mortality when compared with other population densities.