Host Finding Behavior of Two Different Turkish Isolates of Entomopathogenic Nematode Species, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Poinar 1976 (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae)

Authors: İ. ALPER SUSURLUK, IŞIK O. ÜNLÜ, İLKER KEPENEKCİ

Abstract: The movement of 2 different isolates of an insect parasitic nematode species (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Tur-H2 and H. bacteriophora Tur-H1) in vertical columns was tested under laboratory conditions. We have found significant differences in the movements of H. bacteriophora Tur-H2 and H. bacteriophora Tur-H1 towards the Galleria mellonella larvae as a host. The maximum nematode infection rate inside the host was observed on the third day of the trial period for both species. We have recorded the number and the given percentage of infective juveniles (IJs) of H. bacteriophora Tur-H2 that moved towards the G. mellonella larvae within 24, 48, 72, 96, 118 and 148 h at 25 ºC, and the results obtained were 0.26, 3.20, 52.38, 12.52, 8.20 and 3.73%, respectively. When the same procedure was repeated for H. bacteriophora Tur-H1 within the above periods, the following results were recorded: 0.52, 3.28, 28.16, 4.34, 3.90 1.82%, respectively. Suprisingly, despite the 2 nematodes belonging to the same species, they appear to have different foraging strategies on the same host.

Keywords: H. bacteriophora Tur-H1, H. bacteriophora Tur-H2, penetration rate, movement, biological control

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