THE EFFECTS OF STEINERNEMA-CARPOCAPSAE (WEISER) APPLICATION TO DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES ON ADULT EMERGENCE OF THE CAT FLEA CTENOCEPHALIDES-FELIS (BOUCHE)

The effect of nematode Steinernema carpocapsae on cat flea larvae and pupae in different substrates was studied. Nematode application to pot ting soil, sand, or gravel substrates containing flea eggs, larvae or pupae reduced adult flea emergence; the effects on sand and gravel wer e equivalent to and greater than the effects on soil. To determine if the cat flea cocoon provides protection from nematodes, pupae in cocoo ns of silk, sand and silk, or naked (without cocoons) were placed in c lose proximity to nematodes. All pupae in cocoons or naked were suscep tible to nematode attack. When nematode numbers were increased from on e to 25 per cocoon the chance for flea infections also increased.