Steinernema feltiae K1 (Filipjev) (Nematode: Steinernematidae), an entomopathogenic nematode, was isolated and identified based on its morphological and molecular diagnostic characteristics. Its infective juveniles (IJs) were highly pathogenic to three lepidopteran (LC₅₀ = 23.7–25.0 IJs/larva) and one coleopteran (LC₅₀ = 39.3 IJs/larva) insect species. Infected larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Insecta: Lepidoptera), exhibited significant reduction in phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity in their plasma. The decrease of PLA₂ activity was followed by significant septicemia of the larvae infected with S. feltiae. Insecticidal activity induced by S. feltiae was explained by significant immunosuppression in cellular immune responses measured by hemocyte nodule formation and total hemocyte count (THC). Although S. feltiae infection suppressed nodule formation and THC in the larvae, an addition of arachidonic acid (AA, a catalytic product of PLA₂) rescued these larvae from fatal immunosuppression. In contrast, an addition of dexamethasone (a specific PLA₂ inhibitor) enhanced the nematode’s pathogenicity in a dose-dependent manner. To discriminate the immunosuppressive activity of a symbiotic bacterium (Xenorhabdus bovienii (Proteobacteria: Enterobacterales)) from the nematode, kanamycin was applied to after nematode infection. It significantly inhibited the bacterial growth in the hemolymph. Compared to nematode treatment alone, the addition of antibiotics to nematode infection partially rescued the immunosuppression measured by phenol oxidase activity. Consequently, treatment with antibiotics significantly rescued the larvae from the insecticidal activity of S. feltiae. These results suggest that immunosuppression induced by infection of S. feltiae depends on its symbiotic bacteria by inhibiting eicosanoid biosynthesis, resulting in significant insect mortality. However, the addition of antibiotics or AA could not completely rescue the virulence of the nematode, suggesting that the nematode itself also plays a role in its insecticidal activity.

Parthenogenesis is not uncommon in thrips. This asexual reproduction produces males (arrhenotokous) or female (thelytokous). Only females are found in the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman 1889) infesting Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) in several areas of Korea. To determine the reproduction mode of T. tabaci, thrips infesting Welsh onion were collected from different localities in Korea. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences were then assessed. Results showed that all test local populations had signature motif specific to a thelytokous type. These COI sequences were clustered with other thelytokous populations separated from arrhenotokous T. tabaci populations. In a laboratory test, individual rearing produced female progeny without any males. These results support that Korean onion thrips infesting Welsh onion have the thelytokous type of parthenogenesis. Local thrips populations exhibited significant variations in susceptibility to chemical and biological insecticides. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis indicated genetic variations of local populations. However, the genetic distance estimated from RAPD was independent of the actual distance among different local populations. These results suggest that genetic variations of T. tabaci are arisen from population subdivision due to asexual thelytokous reproductive mode.