Susceptibility of diamond back moth, <i>Plutella xylostella </i>(L) to entomopathogenic nematodes

Abstract

Eight entomopathogenic nematode species <i>/ </i>strains, <i>Steinernema glaseri </i>(steiner), <i>S. carpocapsae </i>(Weiser), <i>S. feltiae </i>(Filipjev), <i>Steinernema</i> sp. Ecomax strain, <i>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora </i>(Pioner), <i>Heterorhabditis </i>sp. Ecomax strain, two<i> </i>locally isolated strains called as JFC and TFC were tested against the final instar larvae of diamond back moth, <i>Plutella</i>

<i>xylostella </i>(L.). All nematodes were found pathogenic. However, <i>H. bacteriophora </i>was adjudged the most pathogenic amongst the test nematodes on the basis of LD₅₀ (9.16 IJS/larva), LT₅₀ (43.26 hr), Lex T₅₀ (3.24 hr) and the propagation potential (average of 271.42 IJS/mg) on the host body weight.