The effect of sand particle size on Steinernema feltiae sensu Filipjev (1934) (=N. bibionis Bovien) activity against Galleria mellonella larvae

Blackshaw, R. P.; Senthamizhselvan, M.

doi:10.1111/j.1744-7348.1991.tb05353.x

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…These results were in agreement with Blackshaw and Senthamizhselvan (1991), who observed that S. feltiae was avirulent against G. mellonella in sand fractions with particles less than 600 lm. As pointed out by Barbercheck (1992) and Portillo-Aguilar et al (1999), these virulence losses might be due to the high clay content, which restricts nematode movement, or decreased aeration, which can result in the reduction of nematode survival and efficacy.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Screening Spanish isolates of steinernematid nematodes for use as biological control agents through laboratory and greenhouse microcosm studies

Campos‐Herrera

Gutiérrez

2009

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Screening Spanish isolates of steinernematid nematodes for use as biological control agents through laboratory and greenhouse microcosm studies

Campos‐Herrera

Gutiérrez

2009

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

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“…The effects of substrate depth and particle size, as 2 potentially important abiotic factors for ground-dwelling animals, have not been the focus of much research. The few studies include the effect of sand particle size on the performance of parasitic nematodes infecting moths, with optimal performance being found in mid-size particles (Blackshaw and Senthamizhselvan 1991), and the strength of this abiotic effects being species-specific (Gruner et al. 2007).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Wormlions prefer both fine and deep sand but only deep sand leads to better performance

et al. 2018

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Wormlions are small fly larvae that dig pits in loose soil to trap their prey. Similar to other trapbuilding predators, like spiders and antlions, they depend on the habitat structure for successful trap construction and prey catch. We examined whether sites at which wormlions are present differ in sand depth and particle size from nearby sites, at which wormlions are absent. Next, in the laboratory we manipulated both sand depth and type (fine vs. coarse) to determine their joint effect on microhabitat preference, the size of the constructed pit, wormlion movement, and their latency to respond to prey. We expected better performance by wormlions in fine and deep sand, and the sand in wormlions' natural sites to be finer and deeper. However, in only partial agreement with our expectations, wormlion sites featured finer sand but not deeper sand. In the laboratory, wormlions preferred both fine and deep sand, and moved more in shallow and coarse sand, which we interpret as an attempt to relocate away from unfavorable conditions. However, only deep sand led to larger pits being constructed and to a faster response to prey. The preference for fine sand could, therefore, be related to other benefits that sand provides. Finally, body mass was a dominant factor, interacting with the preference for both deep and fine sand: deep over shallow sand was more favored by large wormlions and fine over coarse sand by smaller ones. Our results suggest that several factors should be incorporated when studying microhabitat selection.

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“…The IJs of these two species are similar in average length and width (Poinar, 1990;Stock, 1997), so behavioral diVerences may play a larger role than intrinsic physical diVerences. Blackshaw and Senthamizhselvan (1991) showed that the foraging eYciency of S. feltiae is sensitive to particle grain size, with maximum activity occurring in sandy soils of intermediate grain size (700-800 m). The reduced pore space could hinder the transmission of carbon dioxide or volatile exudates which the nematodes use as host-Wnding cues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil mediates the interaction of coexisting entomopathogenic nematodes with an insect host

Gruner

Ram

Strong

2007

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

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We tested for soil substrate eVects on the movement and infectivity of naturally co-occurring entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis marelatus, alone and in combination. We manipulated the presence and bulk density of soil and added Galleria mellonella baits within capped and perforated 15 mL centrifuge tubes. Sampling tubes were then deployed in situ into Weld and laboratory settings as experimental traps for infective juveniles. In comparisons with standard soil collections from Lupinus arboreus rhizospheres, sampling tubes were equally sensitive to the presence of H. marelatus and more sensitive to S. feltiae. In laboratory microcosms, both EPN species infected Galleria at high frequencies in tubes lacking soil and in the absence of heterospeciWcs. Infection frequency of S. feltiae was unaVected by the presence of H. marelatus, but it declined with higher soil bulk density inside tubes. In contrast, detectable infection frequency by H. marelatus was reduced only marginally by the presence of soil but severely by the presence of S. feltiae. Thus, the presence of soil in tubes reversed the identity of dominant species infecting Galleria in tubes, an eVect magniWed when soils were compacted. Moreover, S. feltiae rarely moved into tubes lacking Galleria baits, whereas H. marelatus colonized unbaited tubes 4-to 5-fold more frequently than S. feltiae. In situ, sampling tubes acted as Wlters to reduce interference and contamination by fungal pathogens common in Weld soils. The method allows precision sampling with minimal soil disturbance while protecting bait insects from scavengers. Manipulation of tube design may allow selective sampling of EPN species, depending on the abiotic characteristics of soils, and the biology, behavior, and interspeciWc interactions of coexisting species.

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The effect of sand particle size on Steinernema feltiae sensu Filipjev (1934) (=N. bibionis Bovien) activity against Galleria mellonella larvae

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

Screening Spanish isolates of steinernematid nematodes for use as biological control agents through laboratory and greenhouse microcosm studies

Screening Spanish isolates of steinernematid nematodes for use as biological control agents through laboratory and greenhouse microcosm studies

Wormlions prefer both fine and deep sand but only deep sand leads to better performance

Soil mediates the interaction of coexisting entomopathogenic nematodes with an insect host

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