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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319216
Title: Low cost production of nematodes for biological control of insect pests

Author
item Rojas, Maria - Guadalupe
item Morales Ramos, Juan
item Shapiro Ilan, David

Submitted to: Adjacent Government UK Magazine
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2015
Publication Date: 7/27/2015
Citation: Rojas, M.G., Morales Ramos, J.A., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2015. Low cost production of nematodes for biological control of insect pests. Adjacent Government UK Magazine. 1-2.

Interpretive Summary: Nematodes are important biological control agents of insect pests. A method for mass rearing them is the use of meal worm larvae (Tenebrio molitor). Here, we report ARS research to improve these production methods.

Technical Abstract: Entomopathogenic nematodes are produced in two ways: in artificial media using liquid or solid fermentation methods (in vitro) or by mass producing insect hosts to be artificially exposed to mass infection by nematodes (in vivo). The yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) is a good host for in vivo nematode production, since it does not produce cocoons and retains structural integrity while infected by nematodes. Mealworms have the additional advantage of being produced commercially in large quantities in many countries around the world.