Comparison of the Virulence of Heterorhabdit Nematodes on Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

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The virulence of nine local heterorhabditid isolates obtained in a survey in South Carolina (USA) (Heterorhabditis megidis LEX, H. zealandica EDS and CHR, and H. bacteriophora WPS, SMP, PD, CFG, MF and CFM strains) with two other heterorhabditid nematodes from different place (H. bacteriophora Hb and HP88 strains) against last instar greater wax moth larvae were compared under laboratory conditions. Nematode concentrations of 5, 10, 25 and 100 infective juveniles (IJs) per larva were used. The Petri-plate bioassay procedure was used in the trials and each treatment was repeated 4 times. Petri dishes contained 7 larvae each were incubated in a dark growth cabinet at 25°C with 75% relative humidity. Mortalities were counted for 4 days. At the final count, mortalities were 53.6-100, 42.3-100, 66.1-100, 60.7-100, 57.7-100, 60.7-100, 45.2-100, 54.8-100, 30.4-100, 57.7-100 and 81.5-100% for H. megidis LEX, H. zealandica EDS and CHR, and H. bacteriophora WPS, SMP, PD, CFG, MF, CFM, Hb and HP88 strains at all concentrations, respectively. Positive regressions were observed between mortality and dose for all nematodes in the trials. When all dozes were evaluated together, H. bacteriophora HP88 strain produced the highest mortality with 81.5% at the lowest rate and differed than others by having 100% mortality in the other concentrations. As a result, all nematodes in the trails starting with H. bacteriophora WPS, PD and Hb, H. zealandica CHR and EDS, and H. megidis LEX strains were found promising in biological control.

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Biological control , entomopathogenic nematodes , Galleria mellonella , Heterorhabditis

Journal Of Agricultural Faculty Of Gaziosmanpasa University

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Journal Of Agricultural Faculty Of Gaziosmanpasa University