EVALUATION OF TWO NATIVE ISOLATES OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES STEINERNEMA SP. AND HETERORHABDITIS INDICA FROM ANDHRA PRADESH AGAINST AMSACTA ALBISTRIGA WALK IN GROUNDNUT

Abstract

The efficacies of two native entomopathogenic nematodes viz., Steinernema sp. and Heterorhabditis indica was evaluated under laboratory and microplot conditions against red hairy caterpillar Amsacta albistriga walk in groundnut.80% and 42% of mortality was observed in filter paper assay within 24 h by H. indica and Steinernema sp. respectively. Steinernema was more virulent against 2nd and 3rd instar larvae, while H. indica showed virulence at all the stages. Microplot application of H. indica at 100000 IJ/ml showed more efficient control than other concentrations. Entomopathogenic nematodes remain viable in soil upto 3 months after treatment. To the best of author’s knowledge this is the first report of using entomopathogenic nematodes against red hairy cateriplllar.