Chinese Journal of Entomology (1997) 17, 120-131

Chi-Chin Cheng and Roger F. Hou (1997)
[Effects of environmental factors on survival of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae]
Chinese Journal of Entomology 17 (2), 120-131
Abstract: Effects of relative humidity, pH, temperature, and UV, irradiation on survival of 3rd stage infective juveniles (IJs) of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae, were investigated in the laboratory. Viability of IJs under different storage times and after spraying a nematode suspension onto leaves was examined based on their survival time. When incubated in phosphate buffer at pH 4-12 for 10 days, the IJs could maintain a 60%-70% survival rate. However, all IJs died when the suspension was adjusted to pH 2. The nematodes maintained a 70% survival rate when cultured at 16-32 °C for 10 days, but they died after 6 h at 35 °C . All nematodes died after continuous exposure to 254 nm UV light for 36 h although the survival rate was slightly reduced when exposed for 14 h. S. carpocapsae could survive for 105 days when stored in water at 25°C , and was still able to infect larvae of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis. IJs were able to survive for 6-9 h when the nematode suspension was sprayed onto corn leaves.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Chinese)
Database assignments for author(s): Roger F.N. Hou

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
formulation/storage of bioagents

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ostrinia furnacalis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Taiwan
Steinernema carpocapsae/Xenorhabdus nematophila (entomopathogen)	Ostrinia furnacalis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Taiwan