Susceptibility of Musca domestica larvae and adults to entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae) native to Mexico

ABSTRACTWe evaluated the pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic nematodes native to Mexico,Heterorhabditis indica, Heterorhabditis sp. andSteinernema sp., towardsM. domestica under controlled conditions. For adults, concentrations of 1,600 (A) and 1,200 (B) nematodes/ml were considered. For larvae, only the first concentration applied to filter paper, wheat bran, and peat moss as substrates was evaluated. An analysis of variance showed that the differences in adult mortality were only significant (p = 0.0001) among nematode species but not among concentrations within species. However, differences were significant (p = 0.0001) when data were analyzed when 50% of the individuals died (LT50). ForH. indica, the LT50 were 46.5 h and 65.8 h for the concentrations A and B, respectively. Females were more susceptible than males.H. indica recorded the highest mortality, with 79.2% and 35.5% for females and males, respectively. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were recorded in larval mortality.H. indica induced the highest mortality (53.3%) when applied on peat moss. The results are a fundamental basis for future management studies ofM. domestica by entomopathogenic nematodes.

Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - November 8, 2018 Category: Biology Authors: Alma Angelina Morf ín Arriaga, Hipolito Cortez‐Madrigal Tags: Original Article Source Type: research