Development and virulence of Heterorhabditis spp. strains associated with different Xenorhabdus luminescens isolates

Seven axenic Heterorhabditis strains were mutually recombined with their Xenorhabdus luminescens symbionts. Each strain developed successfully only on some X. luminescens isolates. Those that developed successfully were maintained on Bedding's sponge medium and on Galleria mellonella larvae. On different X. luminescens isolates they grew at different rates and sometimes they grew more prolifically on others than on their own symbionts. The virulence of seven natural Heterorhabditis strains to Galleria larvae varies considerably and is unrelated with their growth rates and yields.