Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Host influences on the pathogenicity of Heterorhabditis megidis

  • Published:
BioControl Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The infectivity of infective juveniles(IJs) of Heterorhabditis megidis (strain NLH-E87.3) produced on small, medium and large larvae ofGalleria mellonella, and on medium and largelarvae of Otiorhynchus sulcatus was tested underlaboratory conditions against G. mellonella andO. sulcatus larvae. Infective juvenilesoriginating from small G. mellonella exposed toan initial dose of one IJ were more infectious thanthose from small cadavers exposed to a dose of 30 IJs.Independent of the initial inoculum size, IJs fromsmall cadavers of G. mellonella were moreinfectious than those from medium and large cadavers.At a dose of one IJ per larva, IJs originating frommedium size O. sulcatus cadavers were moreinfective against G. mellonella than againstO. sulcatus larvae. Large G. mellonellalarvae were less susceptible to all IJ batches thanmedium and small sized larvae.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bedding, R. and A. Molineux, 1982. Penetration of insect cuticle by infective juveniles of Heterorhabditis spp. (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae). Nematologica 28: 354-359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boff, M.I.C., G.L. Wiegers and P.H. Smits, 2000. Influences of host size and host species on the infectivity and development of Heterorhabditis megidis (strain NLH-E 87.3). BioControl 45(4): 469-482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curran, J., 1993. Post-application biology of entomopathogenic nematodes in soil. In: R. Bedding R. Akhurst and H.K. Kaya (eds), Nematodes and the biological control of insect pests. CSIRO, Australia. pp. 67-77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doucet, M.M.A. de, M.B. Miranda and M.A. Bertolotti, 1998. Infectivity of entomogenous nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) to Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer (Anoplura: Pediculidae). Fundam. Appl. Nematol. 21: 13-16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eidt, D.C. and G.S. Thurston, 1995. Physical deterrents to infection by entomopathogenic nematodes in wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and other soil insects. Can. Entomol. 127: 423-429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxa, J.R., A.R. Richter and F. Agudelo Silva, 1988. Effect of host age and nematode strain on susceptibility of Spodoptera frugiperda to Steinernema feltiae. J. Nematol. 20: 91-95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geden, C.J., R.C. Axtell and W.M. Brooks, 1985. Susceptibility of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to the entomogenous nematodes Steinernema feltiae, S. glaseri (Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis heliothidis (Heterorhabditidae). J. Entomol. Sci. 20: 331-339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Genstat 5 Committee, 1997. Genstat 5 release 4.1 reference manual supplement. Oxford.

  • Glazer. I., S. Galper and E. Sharon, 1991. Virulence of the nematode (Steinernematids and Heterorhabditids)-bacteria (Xenorhabdus spp.) complex to the Egyptian cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Invertebr. Pathol. 57: 94-100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gouge, D.H. and N.G.M. Hague, 1995. The development of Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in the sciarid fly Bradysia paupera (Diptera: Sciaridae). Ann. Appl. Biol. 126: 395-401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hominick, W.M. and A.P. Reid, 1990. Perspectives on entomopathogenic nematology. In R. Gaugler and H.K. Kaya (eds), Entomopathogenic nematodes in biological control. CRC Press, Boca Raton. pp. 327-349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, R.K., 1996. Infectivity and reproduction of three Heterorhabditis nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) in two insect hosts. Florida Entomologist 79: 363-373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kakouli-Duarte, T. and N.G.M. Hague, 1999. Infection, development, and reproduction of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema arenarium (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in the black vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Nematology 1: 149-156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaya, H.K., 1990. Soil ecology. In: R. Gaugler and H.K. Kaya (eds), Entomopathogenic nematodes in biological control. CRC Press, Boca Raton. pp. 93-115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaya, H.K. and G.S. Thurston, 1993. Soil microorganisms affecting entomopathogenic nematodes. In: R. Beding R. Akhurst and H.K. Kaya (eds), Nematodes and the biological control of insect pests. CSIRO, Australia. pp. 97-104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaya, H.K. and A.H. Hara, 1981. Susceptibility of various species of lepidopterous pupae to the entomogenous nematodes Neoaplectana carpocapsae. J. Nematol. 13: 291-294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, E.E. and R. Gaugler, 1994. Entomopathogenic nematode (Rhabdita: Steinernematidae) sex ratio related to foraging strategy. J. Invertebr. Pahtol. 64: 238-242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauleon, H., S. Briand C. Laumond and E. Bonifassi, 1993. Utilisation d'enzymes digestives pour l'étude du parasitisme des Steinernema et des Heterorhabditis envers les larves d'insectes. Fundam. Appl. Nematol. 16: 185-191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdoch, W.W., C.J. Briggs and R.M. Nisbet, 1997. Dynamical effects of host size and parasitoid state dependent attacks by parasitoids. J. Anim. Ecol. 66: 542-556.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Leary, S.A., C.M. Stack M.A. Chubb and A.M. Burnell, 1998. The effect of day of emergence from the insect cadaver on the behaviour and environmental tolerances of infective juveniles of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis megidis (strain UK211). J. Parasitol 84: 665-672.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simõoes, N. and J.S. Rosa, 1996. Pathogenicity and host specificity of entomopathogenic nematodes. Biocontrol Sci. Technol. 6: 403-411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smits, P.H., 1996. Post-application persistence of entomopathogenic nematodes. Biocontrol Sci. Technol. 6: 379-387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smits, P.H., G.L. Wiegers and H.J. Vlug, 1994. Selection of insect parasitic nematodes for biological control of the garden chafer, Phyllopertha horticola. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 70: 71-82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smits, P.H., J.T.M. Groenen and G. de Raay, 1991. Characterization of Heterorhabditis isolates using DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism. Revue Nematol. 14: 445-453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomalak, M. 1994. Phenotypic and genetic characterisation of dumpy infective juveniles mutant in Steinernema feltiae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae). Fundam. Appl. Nematol. 17: 485-495.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. M.I.C. Boff

    Present address: Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina – Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil (author for correspondence; e-mail:

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands;

    M.I.C. Boff, G.L. Wiegers & P.H. Smits

Authors
  1. M.I.C. Boff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G.L. Wiegers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P.H. Smits
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M.I.C. Boff.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boff, M., Wiegers, G. & Smits, P. Host influences on the pathogenicity of Heterorhabditis megidis. BioControl 46, 91–103 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009937407899

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009937407899

Search

Navigation