Pathogenicity and mass production of entomopathogenic nematode, Heterohabditis indica on major insects of agricultural importance

A study on pathogenicity and mass production of entomopathogenic nematode, Heterohabditis indica was carried out in Meerut, India. Observed data showed that the larval stages of Plutella xylostella, Bombyx mori, Leucinodes orbonalis, Corcyra cephalonica, Galleria mellonella and Helicoverpa armigera were found highly susceptible to the IJs of H. indica causing 73.3 to 100% mortality at 48 h of exposure. Other insects, viz., Spodoptera litura, Spilosoma obliqua, Pieris brassicae, Earias vittella and Holotrichia consanguinea were less susceptible (3.3 to 73.5% mortality). The maximum IJs were produced from the infective larvae of G. mellonella (50,000-2,00,000) followed by H. armigera (50,000-1,50,000). Whereas, the minimum IJs were produced from infective larvae of P. xylostella (100–2000) followed by B. mori (2000–3000).