Interactions between Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) vuill. and the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema Sp. [electronic resource]: III. histopathological studies of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella.

Includes references.

Penetration of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. in its host occurs much more likely through the integument (Ferron, 1985) and possibly through the respiratory organs (Vey and Gotz, 1986). The defence mechanism of insects during fungal infection is represented by hemocytic reactions that lead to the formation of capsules, or granuloma whereas phagocytosis does not seem to play an important role (Vey and Fargues, 1977 and Vey and Gotz, 1986). The penetration of the cuticle or epidennal cells by nematodes may elicit a tissue response by the host (Stoffolano and Yin, 1986). Hemocytic encapsulation is involved in the defense mechanism against nematodes which is sometimes accompanied by melanization with or without participation of the hemocytes (Poinar, 1974; Gotz et at., 1977). Interspecific competition from a microbial control standpoint may enhance efficacy by increasing insect susceptibility to nematode infection, reducing the period of lethal infection, or exhibiting a synergistic effect on mortality (Kaya 1993; Koppenbofer et al., 1999).

1