PESTA - NEW GRANULAR FORMULATIONS FOR STEINERNEMA-CARPOCAPSAE

''Pesta,'' a new granular product for use with entrapped biocontrol ag ents, is based on a cohesive dough made of wheat flour, fillers, and o ther additives. Infective juveniles of the entomopathogen Steinernema carpocapsae strain All incorporated in Pesta granules emerged when the granules were softened by immersion in water. These granules may be u seful for the biocontrol of insect pests in the soil. Storage temperat ure had the greatest effect on recovery of nematodes, followed by the moisture content of the granules. Recovery of nematodes was the same a mong the formulations tested and was unaffected by storage in nitrogen . Nematode recovery after storage at 21 C decreased to zero after 3-6 weeks. Storage of samples at 4 C and with a high moisture content (19. 9-23.1%) greatly improved nematode viability.