Abstract

PESCHIUTTA, María L.; CAGNOLO, Susana R.  and  ALMIRON, Walter R.. Susceptibility of larvae of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Díptera: Culicidae) to entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae). Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. [online]. 2014, vol.73, n.3-4, pp.99-108. ISSN 0373-5680.

Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae) is a vector of etiological agents of yellow fever and dengue. An alternative to chemical control of this vector is the use of biological agents. Entomopathogenic nematodes are effective in pest control. The infectivity and life cycle of an Argentinean isolate of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) on Aedes aegypti larvae is registered for the first time under laboratory conditions. For each experimental unit, 30 second-instar larvae were exposed to 8 nematode doses (0:1, 1:1, 5:1, 15:1, 100:1, 500:1, 750:1, 1500:1). The infective juveniles (IJs) used were multiplied on Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The infective continuity of IJs obtained from A. aegypti was tested applying the nematodes in a 100:1 dose on mosquito larvae. Larval mortality rates ranged from 0% to 84%. The larval mortality, the number of nematodes developed inside mosquito larvae and the number of new IJs increased with the increase of the nematodes dose. The results indicated that H. bacteriophora is able to infect A. aegypti larvae, and these nematodes can develop and produce new IJs, allowing the continuity of its life cycle.

Keywords : Heterorhabditis; Biological cycle; Mosquitoes; Infectivity; Biological control.

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