In vitro cultivation of the entomogenous nematode Ovomermis sinensis

The insect-parasitic nematode, Ovomermis sinensis Chen et al., 1991 has the potential for the biological control of a range of insect pests due to many insect sepecies are susceptible to this nematode. For example Leucania separata, Heliothis armigera, Prodenia litura, Spodoptera exigua, Plutella xylostella, Pieris rapae, Agrotis ypsilon, Euxoa segetum etc. The insect host invariably dies when the juvenile nematode completes its parasitic development and exists from the host^s hemocoel. There is an important significance for studying the mass cultivation of O. sinensis for field trials. This paper describes the techniques of in vitro cultivation of O. sinensis.