Comparison of the Infectivity of Steinernema Kushidai (Nematode: Steinernematidae) and Other Steinernematid and Heterorhabditid Nematodes for Three Different Insects

Abstract

The infectivity of Steinernema kushidai was compared with that of other steinernematid and heterorhabditid nematodes for three different insects. There were significant differences between the infectivites of S. kushidai and other nematodes, tested in this study, for wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella, scarabaeid beetle larvae, Anomala cuprea, and Japanese pine sawyer adults and larvae, Monochamus alternatus. Steinernema kushidai was the most infectious nematode for A. cuprea larvae both on wet filter paper and in soil. S. bibionis, S. feltiae, S. glaseri, S. intermedia, and Heterorhabditis heliothidis were not infective for A. cuprea. S. kushidai was less infective for G. mellonella larvae and M. alternatus adults and larvae than the other nematode species. S. kushidai required more time to kill host insects than did other nematodes. Development of S. kushidai in insect cadavers in general differed from that of other steinernematids by lack of second generation adults. Interspecific variation in the infectivity of steinernematids for A. cuprea was clearly demonstrated. This indicates that S. kushidai is the most promising candidate for biological control of scarabaeid beetle larvae. Negative results of application tests of S. kushidai to pine logs suggests that this nematode can not be used to control M. alternatus. © 1989, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.