Infectivity and propagation of entomogenous nematodes, Steinernema spp., on the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae)

TLDR: The most infective on S. glaseri, S. foltiae was positively attracted to the intact and ligated larvae, eficiently invaded, caused acute death of the hosts, and prepagated rapidly and abundant]y, while S. bibionis was weakly attracted toThe intact larvae, ineMciently invadcd, and slowly developed.

Abstract: the most infective on S. Iitura larvac, fo11owed by S. bibionis and S. glaseri, S. foltiae was positively attracted to the intact and ligated larvae, eficiently invaded, caused acute death of the hosts, and prepagated rapidly and abundant]y. S. bibionis was weakly attracted to the intact larvae, ineMciently invadcd, and slowly developed. These properties Ied this nematode to low competitive propagation against the other steinernematicls which were inoculated at the samc time. S. glaseri was slowly but stcadi]y attracted, invaded, quickly devcloped and estabIished a high population in the hosts. The propagation ofS. glaseri, however, was supprcssed by the mixecl ineculatien wSth S. .feltiae and to a lesser extcnt with S, bibionis. All species of