Biological Control Agents of the Future: Entomopathogenic Nematodes

A special kind of nematode known as an EPN maintains a mutualistic relationship with the bacteria that live inside of it. These nematodes come under families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae under taxonomic classification system. EPNs first parasitize then ultimately kill insect pests by providing a symbiotic relationship with bacteria from the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus. The EPNs infect a large variety of insects like- larvae of moths, butterflies, beetles and many other insects like- Mermis nigrescens parasitic nematode of locust and grasshoppers, Romanomermis culicovorax is parasite of larvae of mosquitoes. Nematodes Steinernema spp. holds the bacterium Xenorhabdus spp. Whereas Heterorhabditis spp. holds Photorhabdus spp. inside their body. The EPNs release the bacterium in the insect haemocoel. These bacterium causes Ssepticaemia; insect dies within 2-3 days.