Abstract: Insecticidally-active bacterial cultures and methods of maintaining the virulence of the bacterial cultures. Several species of the bacteria are harvested from nematodes of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae maintained in suitable insect hosts and then cultured as separate, isolated cultures under conditions suitable to the reproduction of the particular bacterial specie(s). Bacteria are harvested for use as an insecticide during the exponential phase of population growth so that the bacteria are highly motile, optionally mixed with other populations of bacteria harvested and cultured from suitable nematode hosts, diluted in water and applied to the insects to be controlled by, for instance, spraying or, in the case of such insects as ants and termites, by pouring the dilute, harvested bacteria onto the insect mound. To maintain the virulence of the isolated bacterial cultures, the bacteria are periodically re-isolated from the nematode, infected in the insect host, and then re-cultured.

Abstract: A packaging system is disclosed for use in storing and conveniently and sterilely activating a useful microbial system in a culture medium. The system includes a conveniently sized bottle of sterile culture broth in a bottle capped with a conventional screw on cap. A second storage cap is provided having an elastomeric o-ring seal at its top and an impermeable sealing disc across the o-ring seal. The space inside the o-ring seal between the sealing disc and the top of the cap contains the lyophilized microorganism inoculant. Removal of the sealing disc and replacement of the first cap with the second cap on the bottle of culture broth then, upon inversion, inoculates the culture broth.

Abstract: Liquid cultures of bacteria of the genus XENORHABDOUS strains NEMATOPHILUS Im/1 and 19061/1 made up on LB broth and cultured for up to 24 hours and applied directly to mounds of the imported fire ant SOLENOPSIS INVICTA have been found effective in killing the pest. The liquid cultures are applied in a density of about 1.times.10.sup.7 bacteria per ml by either low pressure spray, high pressure spray or pouring directly on the mounds.