Effect of the change in energy reserves on the entomopathogenic nematode efficacy.

The free-living infective juveniles of the entomopathogenic nematodes are non-feeding, so the stored energy reserves in these juveniles are of great importance. The relationship between the energy reserves and the efficacy of the entomopathogenic nematodes of genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema was studied. New progenies of S. riobrave and H. bacteriophora (ISK-2 strains), were obtained using the continuous culturing method of nematode juveniles (IJs), for the several cycles under the optimum condition of the temperature (25 degrees C) and nematode density (20 IJs/ larva), inside the host Galleria mellonella. Thus, the nematode efficacy was maximized with a high conservation of energy reserves. The results showed that there was an increase in the penetration rate and the virulence through the new progenies of S. riobrave and H. bacteriophora than in the original progenies, with an increase in the energy reserves.