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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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/655 |
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| author | Aysegul Cengiz Burak Polat Sevval Kahraman Kokten Ummuhan Aslan Bıckı Cansu Calıskan Samed Koc Emre Oz Serap Kocaoglu-Cenkci Ozge Tufan-Cetin Huseyin Cetin |
| author_facet | Aysegul Cengiz Burak Polat Sevval Kahraman Kokten Ummuhan Aslan Bıckı Cansu Calıskan Samed Koc Emre Oz Serap Kocaoglu-Cenkci Ozge Tufan-Cetin Huseyin Cetin |
| author_sort | Aysegul Cengiz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0dc6997d2d13429e85d75ad5803b720f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-0dc6997d2d13429e85d75ad5803b720f2025-08-20T03:32:32ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-07-0114765510.3390/pathogens14070655Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, TürkiyeAysegul Cengiz0Burak Polat1Sevval Kahraman Kokten2Ummuhan Aslan Bıckı3Cansu Calıskan4Samed Koc5Emre Oz6Serap Kocaoglu-Cenkci7Ozge Tufan-Cetin8Huseyin Cetin9Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Forest Protection, Wildlife and Protected Areas, Southwest Anatolia Forest Research Institute, 07010 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeLaboratory Animals Application and Research Centre, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Medical Services and Techniques, Vocational School of Health Services, Antalya Bilim University, 07190 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Environmental Protection Technology, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Akdeniz University, 07070 Antalya, TürkiyeCockroaches, 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/655biological control<i>Blattella germanica</i>entomopathogenic nematodes<i>Periplaneta americana</i>pest management |
| spellingShingle | Aysegul Cengiz Burak Polat Sevval Kahraman Kokten Ummuhan Aslan Bıckı Cansu Calıskan Samed Koc Emre Oz Serap Kocaoglu-Cenkci Ozge Tufan-Cetin Huseyin Cetin Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, Türkiye Pathogens biological control <i>Blattella germanica</i> entomopathogenic nematodes <i>Periplaneta americana</i> pest management |
| title | Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, Türkiye |
| title_full | Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, Türkiye |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, Türkiye |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, Türkiye |
| title_short | Evaluating Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biocontrol Agents Against Two Major Cockroach Species, <i>Blattella germanica</i> and <i>Periplaneta americana</i>, in Antalya, Türkiye |
| title_sort | evaluating entomopathogenic nematodes as biocontrol agents against two major cockroach species i blattella germanica i and i periplaneta americana i in antalya turkiye |
| topic | biological control <i>Blattella germanica</i> entomopathogenic nematodes <i>Periplaneta americana</i> pest management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/655 |
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