Evaluation of entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema dharanaii N.R. (TFRIEPN-15) on greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella Paunikar Sanjay1, Kulkarni Nitin2,* Forest Entomology Division, Tropical Forest Research Institute P. O. RFRC, Mandla Road, Jabalpur, 482021 1Northern Region, Zoological Survey of India, Dehradun, 248195 2Institute of Forest Productivity, Ranchi, 835303 *Corresponding author Email: kulkarnin@icfre.org
Online published on 5 February, 2019. Abstract Infectivity and progeny production by new-to-science native entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema dharanaii sp. n.r. (TFRIEPN-15) was evaluated against the wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella in different dose levels. Early last instar wax moth larvae were exposed to doses ranging from 3 to 30 IJs larva−1 for evaluation of infectivity and 3 to 200 IJs larva−1 for progeny production. The lowest dose of 3 IJs larva−1 caused 44.00% mortality and highest mortality of 100% was obtained at 24 IJs larva−1 and 30 IJs larva−1. While the production of IJs of the next progeny was proportional to increase in EPN doses exposed, but this dose-dependent increase in progeny production was only up to a dose. The cadavers exposed to minimum dose of 3 IJs Larva−1 produced 57, 400 IJs, whereas, the highest dose 200 IJs larva−1 allowed progeny production of only 39, 320 IJs larva−1. The LC50, LC90 and LT50, LT90 were also calculated. Top Keywords Steinernema dharanaii sp. n.r. (TFRIEPN-15), biological control, Galleria mellonella, infectivity, progeny production, mortality, doses, LC50, LC90 and LT50, LT90. Top |