Abstract
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) use foraging strategies to find their suitable insect hosts. They respond to insect or plant host-associated volatile and chemical cues including CO2 through chemosensation. They depend on chemical signals in their surroundings to locate food sources, suitable hosts, and reproductive partners. The intensity of the nematode’s behavior towards chemical stimuli in its natural environment is greatly dependent on the diffusion rate of the chemical compound and on the structural heterogeneity of soil. Foraging strategies such as ambush, standing, jumping, cruise, crawling behavior and intermediate strategies may differ from species to species. Foraging assays are carried out to study the nematode behavior.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Prasad BC, Reed RR (1999) Chemosensation: molecular mechanisms in worms and mammals. Trends Genet 15(4):150–153
Anderson OD, Greene FC (1997) The α-gliadin gene family. II. DNA and protein sequence variation, subfamily structure, and origins of pseudogenes. Theor Appl Genet 95(1–2):59–65
Hui E, Webster JM (2000) Influence of insect larvae and seedling roots on the host-finding ability of Steinernema feltiae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae). J Invertebr Pathol 75(2):152–162
Kaya H, Campbell J (2000) Influence of insect associated cues on the jumping behavior of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema spp.). Behaviour 137(5):591–609
Gaugler R, Campbell JF (1993) Nictation behaviour and its ecological implications in the host search strategies of entomopathogenic nematodes (Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae). Behaviour 126(3–4):155–169
Volk J (1950) Die Nematoden der Regenwürmer und der aasbesuchenden Käfer. Zool Jb Syst 79:1
Lewis EE (2002) 10 behavioural ecology. In: Entomopathogenic nematology. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, p 205
Croll NA (1970) The behaviour of nematodes: their activity, senses and responses. Edward Arnold, London
Koppenhöfer AM, Fuzy EM (2003) Steinernema scarabaei for the control of white grubs. Biol Control 28(1):47–59
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Sivaramakrishnan, S., Razia, M. (2021). Nematode Behavior. In: Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-1444-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-1445-7
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols