Infection of Galleria mellonella by the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis megidis 0627M and Steinernema felitiae 0619HT
Author of the article:WU Xia LI Xiao-Ling QIAN Xiu-Juan
Author's Workplace：Plant Protection Academy, Gansu Agricultural University, Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730070, China; Plant Protection Academy, Southwest University, Chongqing 400700, China
Key Words：entomopathogenic nematodes; nematodes behavior; infection process; approach behavior; migration ability
Abstract：
[Objectives] To investigate the infection of Galleria
mellonella by the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis megidis 0627M and Steinernema felitiae 0619HT. [Methods] We investigated the behavior of H. megidis 0627M and S. felitiae 0619HT’s with, and
without, G. mellonella, including
host searching and recognition and the entire infestation process. We also
investigated the movement of nematodes towards host insects. [Results] The presence of water, and the method of searching for hosts, affected
the infection process. Both H. megidis 0627M and S. felitiae 0619HT showed
obvious tropism towards G. mellonella. [Conclusion] H.
megidis 0627M had greater mobility than S.
felitiae 0619HT in the presence of G.
mellonella, however, in the absence of G.
mellonella, S. felitiae 0619HT’s was more mobile
than H. megidis 0627M.