The Diaprepes root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) is a major pest of citrus, ornamentals, and vegetables in Florida and the Caribbean. Entomopathogenic nematodes can provide substantial control of the root feeding larvae, but their efÞcacy can be affected by soil type. Our objective was to determine the effects of three soil types on the control of D. abbreviatus with Steinernema riobrave (C...

The infective juveniles (IJs) of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) seek out host insects and release their symbiotic bacteria into their body cavity causing septicaemia, which eventually leads to host death. The interaction between EPNs and their hosts are only partially understood, in particular the host immune responses appears to involve pathways other than phagocytosis and the canonical tra...

Associations between endosymbiotic bacteria and their hosts represent a complex ecosystem within organisms ranging from humans to protozoa. Drosophila species are known to naturally harbor Wolbachia and Spiroplasma endosymbionts, which play a protective role against certain microbial infections. Here, we investigated whether the presence or absence of endosymbionts affects the immune response o...

Summary A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema indicum n. sp., was isolated from a coconut palm ( Cocos nucifera ) field in the district Udupi, Karnataka, India. The infective juveniles (IJ) S. sp. possess body length 1043 (869-1172) μ m. lateral fields are formed by eight equally spaced and developed ridges (nine incisures) mid-body region, giving formula 3, 8, 7, 5. excretory...

1. Entomopathogenic nematodes can function as indirect defence for plants that are attacked by root herbivores. By releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), plants signal the presence of host insects and thereby attract nematodes. 2. Nonetheless, how roots deploy indirect defences, how indirect defences relate to direct defences, and the ecological consequences of root defence allocation for...

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Project Summary: This project aims to sequence the genome of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora strain TTO1 as a representative of 45 other species that are used as biological control agents for insect pests worldwide. This nematode is closely related to the two already sequenced free-living nematodes, Caenorhabditis elegans and C. briggsae...