SCREENING ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES FOR THEIR POTENTIAL AGAINST DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER
Authors: Asma Batool, Khalid Abdullah, Aqdus Zahra, Iqtidar Hussain, Syed Safeer Abbas, Shumaila Kiran, Sadaf Javeria, Syeda Rabail Zahra and Muhammad Naeem
Asma Batool: Department of Entomology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
Khalid Abdullah: Ministry of Textile Industry, 2nd Floor, FBC building, Sector G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Aqdus Zahra: Gomal Medical College, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
Iqtidar Hussain: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
Syed Safeer Abbas: Department of Entomology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
Shumaila Kiran: Institute of chemical sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KPk, Pakistan.
Sadaf Javeria: Institute of Food science and technology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
Syeda Rabail Zahra: Faculty of Computing, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
Muhammad Naeem: Department of Entomology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
ABSTRACT
Fruit flies are among the most destructive insect pests affecting horticultural crops globally. They cause significant losses in fruit and vegetable production by reducing both quality and yield. In a series of laboratory experiments conducted in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan, the infectivity of six entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species—Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. kraussei, S. glaseri, Heterorhabditis indica, and H. bacteriophora—was evaluated against the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Following exposure, the larvae were dissected to detect the presence of nematodes. Among the tested species, H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae demonstrated the highest infection rates, with 97.6% and 85.1% respectively, indicating their strong potential as biological control agents. In contrast, S. glaseri was found to be the least effective against D. melanogaster. Based on adult fly emergence data, H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae were identified as the most virulent EPNs. The study also suggested that measuring adult fly emergence is a more reliable method for assessing EPN efficacy than larval dissection. Infections in the pupal stage were comparatively lower, with S. feltiae and H. indica causing 60% and 58% infection rates, respectively. These findings suggest that D. melanogaster is susceptible to infection by H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae, highlighting their potential role as key components in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for controlling fruit fly populations.
Keywords: Entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema carpocapsae, fruit flies, management