Differential susceptibility of lepidopterous pupae to infection by the nematode Neoaplectana carpocapsae

Prepupae of Galleria mellonella, Spodoptera exigua, and Pseudaletia unipuncta were highly susceptible to infection by the nematode Neoaplectana carpocapsae and its associated bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophilus. On the other hand, pupae of the three species were significantly different in their susceptibility to the nematode. G. mellonella pupae were highly susceptible (100% mortality), S. exigua pupae were moderately susceptible (ca. 75% mortality), and P. unipuncta pupae were least susceptible (ca. 54% mortality). In the latter two species, many pupae died without any nematode development, but the typical signs associated with a nematode infection were evident. Age of the pupae and increasing the dosage of the nematode did not significantly affect mortality of S. exigua or P. unipuncta.