Indian Grassland and Fooder Research Institute, Jhansi-284001, India.
Fooding apparatus and gut content of lotochus monhystera show that it is well adapted for predacious mode of feeding. The data on relative population fluctuation of I. monhystera and a plant-parasitic nematode Helicotylenchus dihystera obtained from the field studies show basically two types of population growth forms, i.e., J-shape and S-shape. The S-shape population growth of the predator has significant role in maintaining the predator-prey population as it is evident in pastures. Mathematical models are given for both types of population growth and predator-prey interaction with explanation in the light of field data. These studies reflect on the possibility of significant role of predacious nematodes in the biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes in pastures, and silvi-pastoral systems.
