Entomopathogenic nematodes are used for biological control of insect pests. A method for improved cryopreservation of infective juvenile stage nematodes has been developed using Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. Optimum survival for both species was achieved with 12,000 infective juveniles/ml in glycerol and 7,500/ml in Ringer's solution. For S. carpocapsae, maximum sur...

The susceptibility of adult sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), to five local Syrian isolates of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema riobravae Texas, S. carpocapsae C3B, and H. bacteriophora 8-14 strains was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Concentrations of 50, 100, 200, and 400 nematodes per adult were bioassayed; for each nematode concentration, f...

Entomopathogenic nematodes in Steinernema, together with their symbiont bacteria Xenorhabdus, are obligate and lethal parasites of insects that can provide effective biological control of some important lepidopteran, dipteran, and coleopteran pests of commercial crops. Phylogenetic relationships among 21 Steinernema species were estimated using 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences and morphologic...

Animal-microbe symbioses are ubiquitous in nature and scientifically important in diverse areas, including ecology, medicine, and agriculture. Steinernema nematodes and Xenorhabdus bacteria compose an established, successful model system for investigating microbial pathogenesis and mutualism. The bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila is a species-specific mutualist of insect-infecting Steinernema c...

"Pesta," a new granular product for use with entrapped biocontrol agents, is based on a cohesive dough made of wheat flour, fillers, and other additives. Infective juveniles of the entomopathogen Steinernema carpocapsae strain All incorporated in Pesta granules emerged when the granules were softened by immersion in water. These granules may be useful for the biocontrol of insect pests in the s...

In two studies to estimate sampling requirements for entomogenous nematodes in the field, highest persistence of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora after application occurred beneath the canopies of mature citrus trees. Nematode persistence declined with distance from the center-line of the tree row toward the row-middles. Immediately after nematode application to soil, 32 samples (15 cm deep, 2.5-c...

To build upon prior research demonstrating the potential of entomopathogenic nematode dissemination by infected adult Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, we evaluated susceptibility of the adult beetles to 20 strains of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis under laboratory conditions. The nematodes were applied at a rate of 10,000 infective juveniles per 10 adult beetles in 148 mL plastic cups conta...