Identification key to entomopathogenic nematode species

Abstract

The role of entomopathogenic nematodes may be important against different insect pest in the Integrated Pest Management. These nematodes can be found in almost all soil type. The isolation of entomopathogenic nematodes from soils is very easy by different trapping methods but its identification is not so evident. These nematodes are composed of three, Steinernema, Neosteinernema and Heterorhabditis genus with currently 25, 1 and 8 species, respectively. There is no complete identification key to these species in abroad and in Hungary for this reason a key is made to the recently described entomopathogenic nematodes with the measurements of infective juveniles in Tables 1. and 2. As the research on entomopathogenic nematodes is very intensive these days, several new species will be described in the future.