author(s)
Istkhar, Ashok Kumar Chaubey, Aasha, Aashaq Hussain Bhat

abstract
Entomopathogenic nematodes have been developed as the new hope for insect pest management. Four isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes tagged as CS₁, CS_21, CH₅ and CH₆ were recovered from the soil of Saharanpur District of Uttar Pradesh, India, two of each genus Steinernema and Heterorhabditis respectively and were tested for their pathogenicity and recyclingrnpotential against Galleria mellonella larvae. Results revealed that isolate CH₆ was highly virulent and caused 100% mortality within 48 h followed by CS₂₁ and CH₅ within 60 hours. A positive correlation was found between LC₅₀ and LT₅₀ values where increment in LT₅₀ lead to the increment in LC₅₀ values. The recovery of IJs/larva was 3.1±0.13×10⁵, 2.16±0.1×10⁵, 1.68±0.08×10⁵and 1.44±0.1×10⁵ with CS₁, CH₅, CH₆ and CS₂₁ respectively. Results revealed that all the isolates are highly virulent with an excellent reproductive potential in laboratory condition and can be applied further for pest management and commercialization.