Steinernema kushidai n. sp. (Nematode: Steinernematidae) associated with scarabaeid beetle larvae from Shizuoka, Japan

• Published in: Applied Entomology and Zoology Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 313 - 320
• Main Author: Mamiya, Y. (Forestry and Forest Products Research Inst., Kukizaki, Ibaraki (Japan))
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY 1988; Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology
• Subjects: BIOLOGIA DEL SUELO; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGIE DU SOL; COLEOPTERA; ESPECE NOUVELLE; ESPECIES NUEVAS; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; INSECT NEMATODES; Invertebrates; JAPAN; JAPON; LARVAE; LARVAS; LARVE; Nemathelminthia. Plathelmintha; NEMATODE PARASITE D'INSECTE; NEMATODOS DE INSECTOS; NEW SPECIES; PARASITE; PARASITES; PARASITOS; Scarabaeidae; SOIL BIOLOGY; Systematics. Geographical distribution; Life history; Coleoptera; Taxonomy; Insecta; Japan; Parasite; Soils; Entomophagous; Asia; Arthropoda; Scarabaeidae; Helmintha; Nemathelminthia; Diagnosis; Invertebrata; Nematoda
• ISSN: 0003-6862; 1347-605X
• DOI: 10.1303/aez.23.313

Steinernema kushidai n. sp. is described from the cadavers of scarabaeid beetle larvae which were reared in soil collected in Hamakita, Shizuoka, Japan. This new species is closely related to S. feltiae and S. intermedia (=Neoaplectana intermedia), but distinguished from them by the distance from the head to the excretory pore of all stages, the shape of spicules and gubernaculum of male adults, and the body length of the infective juveniles. The life cycle of S. kushidai n. sp. is comparable to that generally accepted for the genus, but characterized by a rare production of second generation adult. The nematode was successfully maintained on either dog food agar or chicken offal medium.