Dormant Season Application of Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis sp. (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) on Almond for Control of Overwintering Amyelois transitella and Anarsia lineatella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Overwintering larval populations of Amyelois transitella in mummy almonds and Anarsia lineatella in hibernaculae on almond trees in California orchards were reduced by infectives of Steinernema carpocapsae strain All and a cold tolerant Heterorhabditis species (HL81) applied in the dormant season. The effect of this reduction in terms of preventing economic damage the following year is not known. Although the population reduction was statistically significant, it is unlikely the increase in mortality achieved would prove to be an economically viable alternative to current practices.