Abstract: The biology analysis on Steinernema litorale, isolated from the apricot tree soil in Yanqing district of Beijing, was studied to understand the potential of being bio-control agent. The results showed that when larvae were exposed to 640 infective juveniles (IJs)/larva for 24 h, 76.7% mortality of Galleria mellonella were recorded. The corrected mortality of G. mellonella was 100.0% at dosages of 40, 80, 160, 320, 640 IJs/larva, except of the dosages of 10 and 20 IJs/larva after 48 h. The corrected mortality of Tenebrio molitor was more than 50% at the dosages of 160, 320 and 640 IJs/larva after 36 h, and 100.0% at the dosages of 640 IJs/larva after 48 h. The survival rate of S. litorale was still up to 94.0% at 50.5% RH desiccated for 9 h. S. litorale ability of transverse diffusion at 30℃ was better than that at 18 and 25℃. There was 62.7% individuals could move 3.6 cm in 24 h to reach the host at 30℃. More than 50.0% mortality rate of S. litorale was obtained in water bath at 30, 32, 34 and 35℃ for 6 h, 100.0% at 38℃ for 2 h. According to the results, S. litorale has high infectivity and long resistance desiccation capacity, which shown its potential of development and application to control pest.

Key words: Steinernema litorale, infection, desiccation tolerance, heat resistance, transverse diffusion