Desiccation survival of the infective larvae of the insect parasitic nematode, Heterorhabditis zealandica poinar.

Desiccation survival of the insect parasitic nematode Heterorhabditis zealandica upon exposure to various relative humidities on membrane filters and agar plates was determined. Survival was poor once water had been lost from the substrate. A screening experiment indicates that survival would not be improved by adjusting the treatment temperature, the source of the infective larvae, the method of rehydration or the addition of trehalose. Desiccation does not, therefore, appear to be a promising option for the long-term storage of these nematodes.