Russia has developed a way to grow parasites for insect pests

Their larvae will be fed with ground caterpillars

A group of researchers from Odintsovo, near Moscow, has developed a way to stimulate the growth and development of parasites capable of destroying young insect pests. Recently they protected their invention with a patent of the Russian Federation.

The invention relates to the breeding of nematodes (roundworms) of the genus Steinernema. They affect pests in the same way as their distant relatives, roundworms, affect humans, although much more effectively: the affected animal inevitably dies. The larva of this tiny worm enters the body of an insect larva or caterpillar through its spiracles or anus. Having settled in the body of the new host, the larva begins to release into it the symbiont bacteria living in itself. The latter, releasing toxins, kill the infected pest in literally 1-4 days. Having developed into an adult, the nematode lays eggs. The larvae that hatch from them first feed on the insides of the dead insect in which they were born, and then crawl away in search of their own hosts. Worms of the genus Steinernema infect common mole crickets, apple moths, garden beetles and many other pests, about 1000 species in total. Now the main way to combat them is to use insecticides, which often destroy not only pests, but also beneficial insects, such as pollinators. And nematodes do not pose any danger either to them or to humans.

To grow worms in laboratory conditions, caterpillars of the bee moth butterfly, a pest of honey bees, are used. To make the nutrient solution, live caterpillars are killed in the freezer and then ground until smooth. Then it is mixed with an agar solution and heated at a temperature of 121 degrees. As soon as the mixture cools, the same symbiont bacteria are inoculated into it. The solution reaches full readiness after two days, it is poured into flasks and the larvae are inoculated. Experiments have shown that after just 3 weeks, about 2.5 million organisms mature in each 50 ml flask, ready to destroy pests. This is 4 times more effective than other currently known nematode breeding methods.