Nosema infections

An immunodiagnostic technique for early detection of microsporidian Nosema infection in silkworms has been developed at MKU, Madurai and transferred to sericulturists [Dharmalingam, personal communication]. Field trials of immuno diagnostic kits developed for detection of the infectious flacherie disease of silkworm B. mori are progressing at CSRTI, Mysore. A sandwich... 

The natural ecosystem maintains a delicate balance between pests and predators. Pest insects can be controlled by the artificial release of predators. One example is a parasitic wasp, Diadegma insulare. The adult female wasp lays eggs in a Plutella xylostella larva and pupates inside the cocoon of the mature larva. This and other insect predators are available commercially, but the usage is limited. Protozoa and nematodes are also used in insect pest control. One example of a protozoan that effectively infects locusts and controls the population is Nosema locustae. A commercially available nematode insect control agent is Steinemema carpocapsae. This nematode parasitizes scarab larvae with a symbiotic Photorhabdus bacterium that produces insecticidal toxins. 

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