Discovery of a New Worm Species That Can Protect Crops Without Pesticides
A Tiny Worm That Fights Crop Pests
Scientists at UC Riverside have found a special kind of worm that can infect and kill insects. These worms, called nematodes, have the potential to control pests in warm and humid places where other helpful nematodes cannot survive.
New nematode species Steinernema adamsi close up under a microscope. Credit: Adler Dillman / UCR
Meet the Steinernema Family
This new species belongs to a group of nematodes called Steinernema. These nematodes have been used in agriculture since the 1920s to control insect parasites without using harmful pesticides. They are safe for humans and other animals.
Why Are They Important?
We use trillions of these nematodes on crops every year because they are easy to buy. There are over 100 species of Steinernema, and scientists are always looking for new ones with unique features. Some may be better suited for certain climates or insects.
A Surprising Discovery
Scientists wanted to learn more about a different Steinernema species, so they asked their colleagues in Thailand for samples. However, when they analyzed the samples, they realized they were not what they had requested. These nematodes looked completely different from any other known species.
Introducing Steinernema adamsi
The scientists have now described this new species in the Journal of Parasitology. These nematodes are so tiny that they are almost invisible to the naked eye. They are about half the width of a human hair and less than 1 millimeter long. If you have several thousand of them in a flask, they would look like dusty water.
A Tribute to a Biologist
The scientists named this new species Steinernema adamsi after Byron Adams, an American biologist who has contributed a lot to our understanding of nematodes and their role in the environment. Adams was also the person who introduced one of the scientists to nematodes when they were an undergraduate student.
What Makes Them Fascinating?
According to Adams, the biology of these nematodes is absolutely fascinating. Besides their ability to control pest insects and help humans, they also teach us about the complex relationships between parasites, pathogens, hosts, and the environment.
A Deadly Strategy
As juveniles, these nematodes live in the soil and wait for insects to infect. Once they find a victim, they enter the insect’s body and release harmful bacteria. Within 48 hours, the insect dies and turns into a bag of liquid. From just a few nematodes, thousands of new ones are born and ready to infect more insects in the soil.
Proven Insect Killers
The researchers have confirmed that S. adamsi can kill insects by conducting experiments with wax moths. Even a small number of these nematodes were able to kill the moths within two days.
What’s Next?
The scientists still have a lot to learn about S. adamsi. They want to find out if these nematodes can withstand heat, UV light, and dryness. They also want to know which insects they can infect. However, since S. adamsi belongs to a genus that can infect hundreds of insect types, the researchers are confident that it will be beneficial in some way.
A Promising Discovery
This discovery is exciting because it adds another weapon against insects and provides us with new insights into biology. Additionally, S. adamsi comes from a warm and humid climate, which makes it a potential solution for controlling insects in environments where current nematodes struggle to survive.