Mass Production of the Mosquito Parasite Romanomermis culicivorax: Effect of Density.

When numbers of Romanomermis culicivorax Ross and Smith were varied in containers with a constant surface area and depth of sand, densities of 12-24 nematodes per cm(2) yielded significantly more preparasites than higher densities. When container surface area and numbers of nematodes were constant and sand volume and depth were varied, yields did not differ significantly. When numbers of nematodes and sand volume were constant and surface area and sand depths were varied, yields were significantly higher for a density of 24 nematodes per cm(2). Yields of preparasites were tripled by simply setting up three cultures, each containing 5 g of nematodes, instead of a single culture containing 15 g.