Infectivity and Virulence of Indigenous Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Mushroom Phorid Fly, Megaselia sandhui (Disney)

Five indigenous isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes ( Steinernema abbasi , S. pakistanense, Steinernema sp. and two isolates of Heterorhabditis indica ) were isolated and tested in vitro for their infectivity and virulence against phorid fly, Megaselia sandhui . Use of 24-welI tissue culture plates for testing infectivity was found not suitable. Sand barrier method revealed that only H. indica (isolate II) was promising in causing significant mortality of larvae of M. sandhui at nematode inoculum levels of 300 IJs and above per five larvae.