Radio-sterilized Spodoptera litura (Fabr.) as a conducive host for in vivo safe trans­port of viable entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema thermophilum as potential parasitoids

The potential of a radio-sterilized host, Spodoptera litura (Fabr.), an established noctuid pest, was ascertained for in vivo transport of the viable entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Steinernema thermophilum. Radio-sterilization (70 Gy) of the host (pest) was done to avoid any pest population build-up from the host larvae that could inadvertently miss EPN infection. The infective juveniles (IJs) derived from a radio-sterilized host took 67.3 h to induce host mortality, 132 h for incubation, and showed 87.8% parasitization with 98.9 IJs har-vesting per mg host body wt, indicating almost similar parasitizing behaviour of these IJs as control. The findings indicated the suitability of the radio-sterilized host, S. litura, for carrying the IJs (in vivo) in a safe mode, that could retain a substantial degree of infecti-vity to be utilized in the field for managing this serious noctuid pest using biocontrol measures.