Abstract
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) use foraging strategies to find their suitable insect hosts. They respond to insect or plant host-associated volatile and chemical cues including CO2 through chemosensation. They depend on chemical signals in their surroundings to locate food sources, suitable hosts, and reproductive partners. The intensity of the nematode’s behavior towards chemical stimuli in its natural environment is greatly dependent on the diffusion rate of the chemical compound and on the structural heterogeneity of soil. Foraging strategies such as ambush, standing, jumping, cruise, crawling behavior and intermediate strategies may differ from species to species. Foraging assays are carried out to study the nematode behavior.
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Sivaramakrishnan, S., Razia, M. (2021). Nematode Behavior. In: Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1445-7_6
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