What are entomopathogenic nematodes?

Roundworms - technically nematodes - come in several different types. Those parasitic on insects are tiny, and after entering the host they can kill it in 1-2 days. The nematode start to reproduce, reaching hundreds of thousands of nematodes per insect. That´s what you see inside the poor fella below (photo by Randy Gaugler).

 

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are commercially available for biological control of agricultural and urban pests, but not yet for killing mosquitoes. During a nematode survey in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil(1), we came across an EPN living in bromeliads, which is often where female mosquitoes lay their eggs. So we wondered whether this EPN would be pathogenic to mosquitoes.