Potential efficacy of Iranian isolates of <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</i> and <i>Steinernema feltiae</i> on <i>Pieris brassicae</i> (Lepidoptera:Pieridae)
In a regional survey, native entomopathogenic nematodes, <i>Heterothabditis bacteriophora</i> and <i>Steinernema feltiae</i> isolates, collected from soil samples in Kurdistan province in Iran were applied against the 4<sup>th</sup> and 5<sup>th</sup> instars of cabbage butterfly larvae. The experiments were performed on both filter paper and cabbage leaves. Bioassay experiments on filter paper were conducted at two temperatures, 25°C and 30°C. LC<sub>50</sub> values for <i>H. bacteriophora</i> on filter paper at 25°C and 30°C against the 4<sup>th</sup> instars were 85.4 and 66.7 IJ per insect, respectively; however, these values for <i>S. feltiae</i> were 96.2 and 66.0 IJ per insect. LC<sub>50</sub> values for <i>H. bacteriophora</i> and <i>S. feltiae</i> were defined as 44.2 and 54.2 IJ per cabbage butterfly 4<sup>th</sup> instars, respectively.