Morphological characterisation of the entomogenous nematodesSteinernemaspp. andHeterorhabditisspp. (Nematoda: Rhabditida)

Abstract

Infective juveniles and adults of 8 steinernematid and heterorhabditid strains were characterised using 11 standard morphometric characters. Differentiation between strains was attempted for individuals by comparing the range of measurements for each character; populations were differentiated by comparing the means for each character. I concluded that morphometric methods still have use for designation of steinernematid strains to the specific level. However, DNA characterisation methods now available should be adopted for intraspecific steinernematid differentiation, and specific and intraspecific heterorhabditid differentiation.