Germination and outgrowth of Bacillus popilliae in hemolymph slide mounts

Cabbage looper hemolymph induced rapid germination and outgrowth of spores of Bacillus popilliae. Spores germinated within sporangia but outgrowth occurred from free released spores as well as from spores retained in sporangia. With 37°C, an alkaline pH, and tyrosinase, outgrowth resulted in 1 hr. Of six strains of milky disease bacteria tested, hemolymph mediated germination and outgrowth of only those which are infective perorally for European chafer larvae, indicating a potential use as a screening tool to assess virulence for the chafer.