NEW EXTRACTION METHOD OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODES USING THE BASIC FLOTAC AND THE MINI-FLOTAC TECHNIQUES

The FLOTAC basic technique is a recognised method used mainly in the veterinary field to extract parasites from the faeces of animals found in the stomach and intestine. This study is the first application of the FLOTAC and Mini-FLOTAC techniques to extract infective juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes from infested Galleria mellonella. The EPN used for this purpose was an endemic Italian nematode belonging to the Rhabitidae family Steinernema carpocapsae. Galleria mellonella larvae were infected and extraction was performed a few days after infection using both techniques. A comparison was then made between the two methods. The results showed that infective juveniles could be extracted from the infected larva as early as three days after infection. The difference between the FLOTAC basic technique and the Mini-FLOTAC technique was not significant in the extraction of entomopathogenic nematodes. Due to its sensitivity and operating easiness the Mini-FLOTAC technique is a promising method for the extraction of entomopathogenic nematodes. It allows faster extraction of nematodes from the inhabited soil and insect host than the conventional White trap method.