Emergence of Steinernema feltiae from infected Galleria mellonella cadavers in moist and dry conditions

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Affiliations & Notes ⌄

¹School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, UK 2Wheat Research Institute, Sakarand, Pakistan 3Department of Plant Pathology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan 4Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam †Corresponding author: alirahoo@googlemail.com

Article Info ⌄

Abstract

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are one of the promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides for the

control of insect pests. For successful insect management, EPNs must be established in the soil and

remain infective, persistent and pathogenic for long periods. The present study investigated on the

emergence of Steinernema feltiae infective juveniles (IJ) from infected Galleria mellonella cadavers in

moist and dry conditions. A significantly high number of infective juveniles of S. feltiae emerged in moist

conditions as compared to dry. A positive correlation was found between the weight of the Galleria

larvae at infection and the numbers of IJ recovered in the moist as compared with dry conditions.

Abstract