Methods And Compositions For Increasing Infectivity Of Entomopathogenic Nematodes

A method for increasing infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes in any target area for the purposes of insect control, said method comprising:

• (a) mixing an aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition with
• (i) entomopathogenic nematodes or
• (ii) seeds to produce coated seeds;
• and
• (b) applying said entomopathogenic nematodes to said target area or planting said coated seeds in said target area;
• wherein said aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition is produced by a method comprising:
• (i) obtaining a nutrient depleted nematode growth medium selected from liquid broth, agar medium, other solid substrate, or insect host cadaver;
• wherein the nematode growth medium has been depleted of nutrients by growing entomopathogenic nematodes;
• (ii) adding an alcohol to said growth medium to a final concentration of between about 10% to about 90% of said alcohol in said growth medium to produce an alcohol-growth medium mixture;
• (iii) centrifuging said alcohol-growth medium mixture to remove solid or insoluble matter while maintaining a supernatant from said centrifuging;
• (iv) drying said supernatant from said centrifuging to produce a dry extract;
• (v) resuspending said dry extract in an aqueous medium to produce a water-soluble pheromone extract;
• and
• (vi) centrifuging said water-soluble pheromone extract to remove water-insoluble compounds while maintaining a water soluble supernatant to produce an aqueous nematode infectivity-increasing composition;
• and
• (vii) optionally drying said aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition to produce a dry nematode infectivity increasing composition and subsequently dissolving said dry nematode infectivity increasing composition in an aqueous medium to produce an aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition.