ABSTRACT
The nematode Deladenus (Beddingia) siricidicola (Nematoda: Neotylenchidae) is the main control agent of the woodwasp Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). It acts by female sterilization and reaches parasitism levels close to 100%, averaging 70%. The monitoring of the efficiency of this nematode parasitism has been done by evaluating the presence of the worm in the reproductive apparatus of male and female wasps, but this process is time consuming and expensive when applied to large samples. The objective of this research was to apply the sequential sampling which has proved to be a viable alternative to evaluate the efficiency of the parasitism of Deladenus (Beddingia) siricidicola on Sirex noctilio. It is based on a variable sample size that is defined in function of the results obtained from the survey, reducing the costs of sampling and obtaining a satisfactory precision level. Some aspects of parasitism by Deladenus (Beddingia) siricidicola are addressed.
Keywords:
sampling; nematodes; woodwasp; Pinus pest