Heterorhabditis (genus - entomopathogens)
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Author: Peggy Greb, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Source: IPM Images
Heterorhabditis Poinar, 1976
The species of this genus are effective biocontrol agents against insect pests and are frequently used in pest management. The insect host is invaded by the juvenile stage of the nematode through the mouth and spiracles, or by piercing the cuticle. The nematodes contain a specific species of entomopathogenic bacteria from the genus Photorhabdus in their gut which are released into the insect hemocoel. The bacteria multiply in the insect and the nematodes feed on the bacteria and the digested insect tissue and in turn multiplies inside its host. Up to half a million of nematodes are produced inside the insect host.
The nematodes kill the host usually within 2-3 days. After death of the insect, infective juveniles are released into the soil where they can survive for several months before infecting another host. While a species of entomopathogenic nematodes typically has a wide host range, there are various degrees of resistance against these nematodes in a given insect. For example, Heterorhabditis species are more infective against Scarabaeidae larvae, compared to Steinernema species, the second important genus of entomopathogenic nematodes.
Heterorhabditis species have a more complex life cycle compared to those of Steinernema. After infection, the juvenile develops into a hermaphrodite female which produces a second generation of males and females. The second generation females then require the fertilization by males to reproduce (they are amphimictic).
While there are morphological characters like the lengths of the different body parts which determine the assignment of a species to this genus, identification is now mainly done by DNA analysis.
Type species: Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
See Nguyen and Smart, 1996 for a review of this genus.
The literature database currently contains 773 publications for this genus of beneficials.
(Please note that "Heterorhabditis (genus - entomopathogens)" is a category and that the literature records for the members under this category may not be complete. See box above on left for queries from the literature database.)
Currently, the following species have been entered into the system:
