Virulence of commercial strains entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser), feltiae Filipjev and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae, Heterorhabditidae), were tested on young females Pulvinaria hydrangeae Steinweden, Partenolecanium corni (Bouché) Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana) (Hemiptera, Coccidae) a native strain H. was citricola scale, ...

Photorhabdus luminescens is a gram negative symbiotic bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, and is a lethal pathogen of insects. It lives in the gut of an entomopathogenic nematode of the family Heterorhabditidae. When the nematode infects an insect, P. luminescensis released into the blood stream and rapidly kills the insect host by producing toxins. So the present study was ca...

Little is known about element contents in the entomopathogenic nematodes despite their vital role in the growth and development of all organisms. Ten element contents of seven nematode isolates were determined. No significant differences were observed in concentrations of aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) among all the studied nematode isolates, while significant differences of cadmiu...

The potential impacts on natural enemies of crops that produce insecticidal Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are an important part of an environmental risk assessment. Entomopathogenic nematodes are important natural enemies of lepidopteran pests, and the effects of Bt crops on these nontarget organisms should be investigated to avoid disruption of their biological control function...

The biocontrol potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against soil-dwelling life stages of the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was evaluated under laboratory and semi-field conditions. The pathogenicity of native isolate of Steinernema feltiae (T1) and three commercial strains, S. feltiae, S. carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis b...

Widespread planting of crops genetically engineered to produce insecticidal toxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) imposes selection on many key agricultural pests to evolve resistance to Bt. Fitness costs can slow the evolution of Bt resistance. We examined effects of entomopathogenic nematodes on fitness costs of Bt resistance in the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Sau...

Abstract Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have more important role in biological control of economic insect pests. The effect native EPNs on adults the lucerne beetle, Gonioctena fornicata (Brüggemann, 1873) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), and alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal, 1813) Curculionidae), which are pests Turkey around world, was investigated. Results Dose-mortality a...

Xenorhabdus spp. and Photorhabdus spp., entomopathogenic bacteria symbiotically associated with nematodes of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae, respectively, were shown to produce different lipases when they were grown on suitable nutrient agar. Substrate specificity studies showed that Photorhabdus spp. exhibited a broad lipase activity, while most of the Xenorhabdus spp. sec...

In biological control programmes introduced natural enemies compete with indigenous enemies for hosts and may also engage in intraguild predation when two species competing for the same prey attack and consume one another. The large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an important pest of coniferous reforestation in Europe. Among its natural enemies, the parasitoid ...

Photorhabdus luminescens is a gram-negative enteric bacterium that is found in association with entomopathogenic nematodes of the family Heterorhabditidae. The nematodes infect a variety of soil-dwelling insects. Upon entering an insect host, the nematode releases P. luminescens cells from its intestinal tract, and the bacteria quickly establish a lethal septicemia. When grown in peptone broth,...