Assessment of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria to control the stink bugs Euschistus heros and Dichelops melacanthus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the soybean-corn succession system

The Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros and the green-belly stink bug Dichelops melacanthus are the most important pests today for the succession system of soy-corn in Brazil. Dichelops melacanthus attacks the emerging shoot (epicotyl) of corn plants at the seedling stage of their development, remaining and reproducing on the straw over generations. Euschistus heros, on the other hand, feeds directly on the grains and lodge under fallen leaves after the soybean harvest, due to the absence of another crop host. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are capable of killing insects due to their ability to search for the host in the soil and to their associations with symbiotic bacteria that cause pathogenesis.