Field pathogenicity and persistence of entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora infecting termite (Odontotermis obesus Rambur) in tea plantation

Experimental results revealed that H. bacteriophora were able to infect O. obesus and cause mortality within the mound. Highest mortality of worker (31.2%) and soldiers (30.4%) of O. obesus were registered when the mounds were treated with H. bacteriophora at 5.0 × 10⁹ IJs/mound thrice as soil drenching at one month interval. The population of H. bacteriophora was multiplied and established successfully in both workers and soldiers. Persistence of H. bacteriophora after one month of last application was better as shown by the mortality of Greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella larvae (7.2 - 35.8%).