Abstract
BackgroundEntomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are one of the widely studied biological control agents. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two EPNs species, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and Steinernema aciari (Qui, Yan, Zhou, Nguyen and Pang) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), isolated locally from soils of Majuli river island, Assam, India against two important subterrenean pests; Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) (Isoptera: Termitidae) and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory conditions.ResultsIn case of O. obesus, mortality percent was recorded by H. bacteriophora after 72 h. at 300 IJs/termite and by S. aciari at 250 and 300 IJs/termite after 96 h. The lowest LD50 and LT50 values obtained for H. bacteriophora were 13.054 IJs/termite and 26.639 h., respectively, while those of S. aciari were 42.040 IJs/termite and 31.761 h., respectively. With respect to A. ipsilon, H. bacteriophora registered a highest mortality rate at 300 IJs/larvae after 144 h. S. aciari showed 100 percent mortality at 300 IJs/larva after 168 h. The lowest values of LD50 and LT50 for H. bacteriophora were 35.711 IJs/larva and 83.050 h., respectively. The lowest values of LD50 and LT50 for S. aciari were 71.192 IJs/larvae and 97.921 h., respectively. Overall, H. bacteriophora displayed more virulence toward O. obesus and A. ipsilon than S. aciari.ConclusionBoth native EPNs were found effective against O. obesus and A. ipsilon. However, H. bacteriophora was more virulent toward O. obesus and A. ipsilon than S. aciari under the laboratory conditions.
Highlights
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are one of the widely studied biological control agents
In vivo method Rearing of bait insect (Galleria mellonella) In order to maintain the virulence of the EPNs species, both species were routinely cultured on Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae, which was maintained on a semi-synthetic diet based on the procedure as described by David and Kurup (1988)
Infectivity of H. bacteriophora and S. aciari against O. obesus workers The mortality observed in O. obesus was subjective to the dose as well time of exposure and varies
Summary
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are one of the widely studied biological control agents. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two EPNs species, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and Steinernema aciari (Qui, Yan, Zhou, Nguyen and Pang) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), isolated locally from soils of Majuli river island, Assam, India against two important subterrenean pests; Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) (Isoptera: Termitidae) and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory conditions. Many ecologists consider termites as one of the most important ecological service providers because of their dominant role in soil ecosystem, in many cases, they have severely. EPNs have been successfully explored against a variety of insect pests such as the termites (Epsky and Capinera 1988) and the cutworms (Kaya et al 2006). Local isolates of EPNs have registered greater potential in managing significant pests of the region because of their compatibility to their native habitats (Griffin et al 2005)
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