곤충병원성선충 Steinernema arenarium의 접종농도가 병원성, 발육, 증식 및 체장에 미치는 영향을 꿀벌부채명나방(Galleria mellonella) 노숙유충을 이용하여 조사하였다. 병원성은 S. arenarium의 접종농도를 증가시킬수록 높아졌는데, 5마리 접종농도에서는 82%의 치사율을 보였고, 10마리 이상의 접종농도에서는 98%이상의 치사율을 나타내었다. 기주체내에 정착한 선충수는 5, 10, 20, 40마리 접종농도에서는 각각 2.7, 5.0, 7.4, 12.2마리였으며 80마리와 160마리 접종농도에서는 24.3마리와 40.2마리였다. 접종농도는 암컷의 평균 체장(4,616 to 6,444 ${mu}m$)에는 영향을 주지 않았으나 수컷의 체장(1,600 to 1,934 ${mu}m$)에는 영향을 주었으며 왜화 암컷(stunted female)의 발생은 80마리와 160마리 접종농도에서 각각 70.2%와 63.7%로 높게 나타났다. 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160마리의 접종농도에서 증식수는 각각 20,431, 26,696, 47,943, 50,516, 58,701, 74,235마리였다 S. arenarium의 침입태 유충의 체장은 접종농도에 따라 차이를 보여 636~1,496 ${mu}m$ 범위였다.
Effect of inoculation level on pathogenicity, development, and propagation of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema arenarium was investigated using the last instar of great wax moth, Galleria mellonella. Pathogenicity of S. arenarium was higher with increasing inoculation level representing 82% at the rate of 5 infective juveniles (IJs) while >98% at the rate of >10 IJs. The number of IJs penetrated into the host was 2.7, 5.0, 7.4, and 12.2 at the rate of 5, 10, 20, and 40 IJs, respectively while 24.3 at the rate of 80 IJs and 40.2 at the rate of 160 IJs. Inoculation level did not affect female adult size (4,616 to 6,444 ${mu}m$) while affected male adult size (1,600 to 1,934 ${mu}m$). The rate of stunted female adults was 70.2% at the inoculation level of 80 IJs and 63.7% at the inoculation level of 160 IJs. The number of progenies was 20,431, 26,696, 47,943, 50,516, 58,701, and 74,235 at the rate of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 IJs, respectively. The body lengths of IJs were different depending on inoculation level ranging from 636 to 1,496 ${mu}m$.
