INTER-SPECIFIC VARIATION IN ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODE FORAGING STRATEGY - DICHOTOMY OR VARIATION ALONG A CONTINUUM

The ability of six entomopathogenic nematode species with different fo raging behaviors to find hosts with different levels of mobility (rest rained and unrestrained Galleria mellonella) was investigated. Steiner nema carpocapsae and S. scapterisci tend to stand on their tails in a primarily straight non-moving posture for extended periods of time (ni ctation). These species exhibit an ambush foraging strategy and were m ost effective at finding the mobile, unrestrained, larvae. Heterorhabd itis bacteriophora and S. glaseri do not nictate and were most effecti ve at finding the restrained larvae; typical of a cruise forager. Anot her non-nictating species, S. feltiae, and a species which nictates in frequently, S. riobravis, were able to find both types of hosts, sugge sting they use an intermediate foraging strategy. The intermediate for aging strategy of S. feltiae may result from it raising more than 30% of its body off the substrate (body-waving) more frequently than the o ther non-nictating species.