Determining the adaptation potential of entomopathogenic nematode multiplication of Heterorhabditis riobravus and Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae) in larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the mean production of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) infective juveniles (IJs) from Alphitobius diaperinus and Galleria mellonella larvae and the possible morphometric changes of emergent IJs. Heterorhabditis riobravus and Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes were placed on 20 larvae of each host individually located in Petri dishes, which were maintained in an environmental control chamber. After death, each larva was individually transferred to White traps where they remained for a maximum of 20 days in environmental control chambers. With IJ multiplication, the water from each trap was separately collected, emergent IJs were counted, and mean production was calculated for each host species. Relative populations of each nematode species emerging from each host were randomly selected and miscegenated. Then, 50 IJs from each host/species were randomly selected for morphometric studies. Significant difference was seen between the two EPN species for mean IJ production values from G. mellonella larvae (P = 0.0048) but not from A. diaperinus larvae (P = 0.8883). Significant differences were also seen in total body length and width between the emergent H. riobravus and S. carpocapsae IJs (P = 0.0002).

Ecological Characterisation of Native Isolates of Heterorhabditis indica from Viti Levu, Fiji Islands

“…Isolate DUNT had progeny significantly less than the isolate VDTA and isolate GALA. The number of penetrated IJ can also affect the multiplication potential of EPNs ( Boff et al, 2000a ; Costa et al, 2007 ). This is in agreement with the results of the penetration assay as lesser number of IJ of isolate DUNT were observed to have successfully established in the host compared to the two other isolates.…”

Formulation of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Control of Key Pests of Grapevine: A Review

“…Van Zyl and Malan (2015) indicate that, by using wax moth larvae, a mean number of 1 459 205 and 1 898 512 IJs can be produced per gram of host. However, Costa et al (2007) claim that the use of G. mellonella is expensive due to their costly diet. Another alternative is the use of mealworms, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (Batista & Auad, 2010;Shapiro-Ilan et al 2010), whose diet can be much more cost-effective than the above.…”

Mass production of the nematode <em>Acrobeloides longiuterus</em> using <em>Tribolium castaneum</em> and artificial solid media

“…Diets for the insect host rearing should be carefully selected, as the diet may influence on juvenile yields (Nunchanart 2002). Generally, last instar larva of the wax moth (Galleria mellonella) is the conventional host used for in vivo multiplication of EPNs (Shapiro-Ilan and McCoy 2000, Shapiro-Ilan et al 2002, Ehlers and Shapiro-Ilan 2005, Costa et al 2007). Galleria mellonella is naturally found in beehives and can be reared using artificial diets containing cereals, wax, yeast and glycerol; however, these ingredients are relatively expensive (Costa et al 2007).…”