Mole Cricket, Scapteriscus sp. (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), is one of the known grass pests throughout the world.  There are three stages in the life cycle of Mole Crickets - eggs, nymphs and adults. They molt many times as they grow and mature into adult caused damage to grass areas such as golf course, athletic field and home lawn. Mole Cricket damaged the turf grass by tunneling in the soil to expose the root and by direct feeding the root. Chemical control is generally used for Mole Cricket but can be expensive and having adverse effect on human and environment. Some sports complex managers and golf course have tried to reduce the use of insecticides because of the local limitations concern about the health of peoples. Entomopathogenic nematode (EPNs) may the replacement of chemical insecticides. These are elongated roundworms colorless and microscopic. These can be used as an alternative of chemical insecticides having no adverse effect on human as well as environment. The study was conducted to check the pathogenicity of EPNs (Steinernema feltiae) against different life stages of Mole Cricket. Different concentrations of S. feltiae 50, 100 and 200 1J/ml were used with three replications on different life stages of Mole Crickets. The mortality was recorded after 24, 48 and 72 h interval. The lower concentration 50 IJs/ml (T2) caused the less mortality of 20% at 24 h while the higher concentration 200 IJs/ml (T4) caused maximum mortality 100% at 72 h. The results suggested that S. feltiae was promising in the sustainable management of Scapteriscus sp. under laboratory conditions and provide the baseline for the management of Mole Cricket under natural conditions.

Keywords: Entomopathogenic nematode (EPNs), Pathogenicity, Roundworms, Steinernema feltiae, Turf grass