The geospatial patterns of four species of native entomopathogenic nematodes in Florida were previously shown to be related to soil properties that affect soil water potential. Here we compared the responses to water potential of third stage, infective juvenile (IJ), Steinernema sp. (Sx), and Steinernema diaprepesi (Sd) in controlled conditions. The two species were selected because they are cl...

Summary A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema indicum n. sp., was isolated from a coconut palm ( Cocos nucifera ) field in the district Udupi, Karnataka, India. The infective juveniles (IJ) S. sp. possess body length 1043 (869-1172) μ m. lateral fields are formed by eight equally spaced and developed ridges (nine incisures) mid-body region, giving formula 3, 8, 7, 5. excretory...

We exposed honey bee workers and brood to four entomopathogenic nematode species under conditions normally encountered in the hive by spraying nematodes onto combs. Mortality of adult bees exposed to any of the nematode species was less than 10%, and there was no evidence of nematode infection when dead adults were dissected. To assess the impact of nematodes on brood, we used smaller-size hone...

Nematode parasites of insects have been known since the 17th century (33), but it was only in the 1930s, that serious consideration was given to using a nematode to Control an insect. In 1929, Glaser and Fox (19) found a nematode infecting grubs of the Japanese beetle, PopilIiajaponica, at the Tavistock Golf Course near Haddonfield, New Jersey. Steiner (44) described the nematode that same year...

The entomogenous nematode species Heterorhabditis heliothidis (Kahn, Brooks, and Hirschmann), H. bacteriophora Poinar, Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser, and N. glaseri Steiner are promising biological control agents for a broad range of soil-inhabiting insect species (6). Many factors in soil affect nematode survival, movement, and infectivity: Moisture is probably the most important physical fa...

A soil survey for entomopathogenic nematodes was conducted throughout the nine islands of the Azorean archipelago. Forty-six out of 1,180 samples (3.9%) were positive, with Heterorhabditis spp. isolated from 30 sites on six islands and Steinernema spp. isolated from 16 sites on three islands. São Miguel and Terceira Islands were positive for both genera, and Pico Island was positive only for St...