Different plant and animal protein media were evaluated in vitro for production of 3 indigenous isolates of Steinernema carpocapsae, 2 isolates of S. bicornutum and one of Heterorhabditis indica. The flasks containing specific media with foam chips were inoculated with different isolates of Steinernema spp., incubated at 24±1°C for 25 days. Of the 9 artificial media evaluated for mass multiplication of Steinernema spp., 4 viz., Wout's medium, modified egg yolk, soyflour + cholesterol and modified dog biscuit, yielded highest number of IJs of 2 isolates of S. carpocapsae, one isolate of S. bicornutum (PDBC EN 2.1) and one of H. indica (PDBC EN6.71). Maximum yield of IJs of S. carpocapsae (PDBC EN 6.11 and 6.61) was observed on modified dog biscuit, while S. bicornutum (PDBC EN 2.1) recorded maximum yield of IJs on modified egg yolk medium. H. indica (PDBC EN 6.71) recorded maximum yield of IJs on Wout's medium. The isolates of S. bicornutum (PDBC EN 3.1 and 3.2) did not multiply on any of the 9 media tried suggesting further improvement of the tested media.
