| Heterorhabditis bacteriophora | |
|---|---|
_Poinar%2c_1975.jpg) | |
| Heterorhabditisbacteriophora nematodes emerging from a greater wax moth. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Chromadorea |
| Order: | Rhabditida |
| Family: | Heterorhabditidae |
| Genus: | Heterorhabditis |
| Species: | H. bacteriophora |
| Binomial name | |
| Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 | |
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is a species ofentomopathogenic nematode known commonly asbeneficial nematodes. They are microscopic and are used in gardening as a form ofbiological pest control. They are used to controlants,fleas,moths,beetles,flies,weevils, and other pests.
These beneficial nematodes enter target insect larva via mouth, anus or respiratory openings and starts to feed. To reproduce the nematodes releasePhotorhabdus bacteria from theirdigestive tract. The bacteria rapidly multiply in the target insect larva and kill it. The nematodes then use the larva cadaver to grow and reproduce.[1]
These nematodes are amenable toin vitro culture, making them of interest to evolutionary and molecular biologists who investigate parasitic and symbiotic systems.[2]Heterorhabditis bacteriophora was selected by theNational Human Genome Research Institute as a sequencing target. The inbred strainH. bacteriophora TTO1 was sequenced using Roche 454 technology, and a high-quality 77 Mb draft genome assembly was produced in 2013.[3]
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