Determinación del instar óptimo de Spodoptera frugiperda en la reproducción de Heterorhabditis indica.

A breeding of S. frugiperda were took, the nematode employee was Heterorhabditis indica Poinar strain P2M that this distributed by all Cuba and is reproduces on Galleria mellonella L. Larvae of 3rd, 4th and 5th instars of the insect were used for the trial, recognized through the diameter of their cephalic cap. 12 larva for instars were taken for each concentrations of 250 n/larva and 500 n/larva. The evaluations started at 24 hours after the inoculation until 72 hours. The same quantity of larva were used as control with sterile water. Changes of the original larva exoskeleton coloration (brown, brown yellow and brown dark) and the consistency of the body of the larva once parasiteds and died by the action of the nematode (F: Flabby; M: Mummified; C.H: Moisturized Body) were determined. The treatments were compared to determine the best inoculation concentration and the best instars to reproduce the entomopathogenic nematode. The 5th instars for the reproduction of the NEPs was the more effective of S. frugiperda, with an increment of 47.194 and 171.7 times for the doses of inoculation of 250 n/larva and 500 n/larva. Larvae of the 3rd and 4th instars of S. frugiperda mummified starting from the 5th day of inoculated, which allows that they can be mounted in White to the sixth day post-inoculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]