Desiccation survival of populations of the entomopathogenic nematodesSteinernema feltiaeandHeterorhabditis megidisfrom Greece and the UK

Abstract

AbstractThe desiccation survival and ability to control water loss during drying of individual infective juveniles (IJs) of populations ofSteinernema feltiaeandHeterorhabditis megidisfrom Greece and the UK were examined at different relative humidities. Survival at all relative humidities was for minutes only and there was no evidence of enhanced survival of the populations of either species from Greece compared with those from the UK. The survival of individuals of both populations ofH. megidiswas superior to that ofS. feltiaeand the rate of drying ofH. megidiswas significantly slower. The sheath surrounding the IJs ofH. megidisappears to be involved in slowing the rate of water loss of the enclosed nematodes.