Bio-efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Infecting Termite (Odontotermes obesus Rambur) under Field Condition
Gitanjali Devi *
Department of Nematology, SCS College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Dhubri-783376, India.
Badal Bhattacharyya
Department of Entomology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785013, Assam, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Field efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were evaluated to ensure the feasibility of native isolate of entomopathogenic nematode to be used in the bio-control of termite (Odontotermes obesus) infestation. EPNs were applied as a soil drenching method at two different doses up to three times of application on termite mound. Results revealed that H.bacteriophora were able to infect O.obesus and cause mortality up to 58.30% within the mound. The Per cent mortality O. obesus were highest with H.bacteriophora at 5.0×109 IJs/mound, three-time application at one month interval. H.bacteriophora successfully penetrated and reproduced well in both workers and soldiers of O.obesus in all the treatments. After one month of last application of nematode, persistence was better as shown by the mortality of Galleria mellonella larvae (5.2-43.8%).
Keywords: Termite (Odontotermes obesus), entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, infestation, bioefficacy, soil drenching