ABSTRACT: The effects of two nematode ages and different exposure times on Galleria mellonella L. larval mortality and nematode penetration rates were studied for three different nematode species. Each G. mellonella larva was exposed to 100 or 200 infective juveniles for 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 h. At 72 h, larval mortality was recorded, the cadavers dissected, and the nematodes that penetrated were counted. Nematodes were either less than 1 week old or 2 to 3 weeks old (aged at 10oC) consecutively labeled "younger" and "older". The older nematodes caused variable larval mortality at short exposure periods. However, if allowed a 72 h incubation period, this variation disappeared. Generally, nematode penetration increased with increase in exposure period. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora consistently penetrated the larvae at lower rates (1-4%) than Steinernema feltiae (4-42%) and younger Steinernema carpocapsae (27-45%). Age reduced the infection potential of S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora but had a positive effect on S. feltiae. Our results have important implications for quality control and application of entomopathogenic nematodes.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Galleria mellonella (wax moth)
Species 2: Nematoda Steinernematidae Steinernema carpocapsae
Species 3: Nematoda Heterorhabditidae Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Keywords: penetration, mortality
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