Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Host-Finding Ability in the Presence of Plant Roots

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Abstract
The host-finding ability of Heterorhabditis heliothidis (Khan, Brooks and Hirschmann) and Steinernema feltiae Filipjev in the absence of plant roots in sandy soil was investigated. During a 7-d period, host-finding ability of H. heliothidis was not impaired when the dried root weights of corn, tomato, or marigold plants were 1.5 g had significantly lower host mortalities (range, 27-50%) compared with control treatments (range, 73-96%); treatments with root weights 1.5 g were observed for H. heliothidis, this nematode species showed greater motility, hence greater host-finding ability, than S. feltiae in the presence of roots because host mortality occurred over a shorter period of time with higher mortality rates and with fewer nematodes.