Survey of entomopathogenic nematodes from the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Soil samples were collected from the whole territory of the Czech Republic, and the presence of entomopathogenic nematodes from the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae was evaluated by Galleria traps method. Of the 342 samples studied, 53.8% were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes with only one positive for the heterorhabditid, Heterorhabditis megidis Poinar, Jackson et Klein, 1987. Of steinernematid species, Steinernema kraussei (Steiner, 1923), Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934), Steinernema affine (Bovien, 1937), Steinernema intermedium (Poinar, 1985), Steinernema bicornutum Tallosi, Peters et Ehlers, 1995, and Steinernema sp. belonging to glaseri group were recovered. With several exceptions the nematodes occurred in all the ecosystems, subecosystems and habitats studied. They were more frequently found in samples from tree than open habitats, from light than heavy soil, and their incidence was ubiquitous, rather than patchy. Dependence of entomopathogenic nematodes on insect incidence seemed to be elementary for both their incidence and abundance. The sampling sites with moderate to severe insect abundance were 66.5 % positive for nematodes while those with slight or no visible insect abundance only 15 %.