Abstract

The paper reports pathogenicity of teak skeletonizer, Eutectona machaeralis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) to newly isolated species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema dharanaii Kulkarni et al. (2012) (TFRIEPN-15) in laboratory bioassays and potential progeny production of Infective Juveniles (IJs). The exposure of mature larvae of teak skeletonizer to the counted number (3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 and 40 IJs Larva-1) of the infective juveniles of S. dharanaii for 12, 24 and 72 hrs revealed that populations of IJs above 10 Larva-1 caused significant mortality (<50%) in the larvae, as compared to control. A dose-dependent mortality was obtained with maximum (100%) mortality of larvae obtained at the highest treatment of 40 IJs Larva-1. The progeny production of IJs from the cadavers of E. machaeralis showed dose-dependent relationship. It was found that the lower production (3,420) of IJs in lower dose 3 IJs larva-1 and higher production (5,500) in 30 IJs larva-1, but also found that higher dose 40 IJs larva-1 the progeny production decreased (2857).  The LC50, LC90 and LT50, LT90 were also calculated.  The investigation will pave way for the development of ecofriendly and biorational alternative management option for the insect pest under the global concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Keywords

Biological control, Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Eutectona machaeralis, Forest Insect Pests.

Received on 02/05/2020, Accepted on 04/06/2020, Published on 26/06/2020