Identification of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in the Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae (Nemata: Rhabditida) K
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Journal of Nematology 28(3):286--300. 1996. © The Society of Nematologists 1996. Identification of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in the Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae (Nemata: Rhabditida) K. B. NGUYEN AND G. C. SMART, JR. 2 Abstract: This paper contains taxonomic keys for the identification of species of the genera Stei- nernema and Heterorhabditis. Morphometrics of certain life stages are presented in data tables so that the morphometrics of species identified using the keys can be checked in the tables. Additionally, SEM photographs and diagnoses of the families and genera of Steinernematidae and Heterorhab- ditidae are presented. Key words: entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis, Heterorhabditidae, identification, nema- tode, Neosteinernema, SEM, Steinernema, Steinernematidae, taxonomy. The family Steinernematidae contains tion of additional species have necessitated two genera, Steinernema Travassos, 1927 modification of family and generic diag- (31) and Neosteinernema Nguyen & Smart, noses. 1994 (15). The family Heterorhabditidae The purpose of this paper is to provide contains one genus, Heterorhabditis Poinar, updated diagnoses of families and genera, 1976 (18). Currently, 18 species of Stein- and taxonomic keys to facilitate the iden- ernema, 1 species of Neosteinernema, and 7 tification of species. We have included species of Heterorhabditis have been de- SEM micrographs of females, males, and scribed and accepted as valid. Although infective juveniles of Steinernema spp., Neo- some authors (13,22) have constructed tax- steinernema, and Heterorhabditis spp. to pro- onomic keys based on both males and in- vide detailed illustrations of diagnostic fective juveniles, identification to species characters. SEM micrographs of Stein- often is attempted using infective juveniles ernema spp. and Neosteinernema longicur- only. Identifications based solely on infec- vicauda are from previous publications, tive juveniles may not be accurate because and the references are cited in the figure there are few differentiating morphologi- legends. SEM micrographs of Heterorhabdi- cal characteristics between species and t/s spp. are originals; they were obtained morphometrical ranges of several species with the method of Nguyen and Smart overlap. Characteristics of males and fe- (17). Specimens of Heterorhabditis bacterio- males must be used for accurate identifica- phora and H. megidis were obtained from tion of most species. Recently, Nguyen and H. K. Kaya and have been maintained in Smart (16) reported that morphometrics our laboratory on larvae of the greater wax of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis species moth, GaUeria meUonella. vary depending on the time of harvest (time after infective juveniles first appear) Family Steinernematidae and whether the nematodes are reared in Figs. 1-4 vitro or in vivo. These differences compli- Diagnosis: (After Nguyen and Smart, cate identification in some cases. Also, 1994 [15]): Alloionematoidea, Rhabditida. structures observed with the scanning elec- Obligate insect parasites. Infective juve- tron microscope (SEM) and the descrip- niles carry symbiotic bacteria in the bacte- rial chamber of the intestine. Both males and females are necessary for reproduc- Received for publication 14 November 1995. tion. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R-04821. Female (Fig. 1): Large, size variable. Cu- 2 Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of ticle smooth or annulated. Lateral fields Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620. absent. Excretory pore distinct. Head E-mail: [email protected] rounded or truncate, rarely offset. Six lips 286 Identification of Entomopathogen Nematodes: Nguyen, Smart 287 present, partly or completely fused, each Esophagointestinal valve usually pro- lip with one labial papilla (Fig. 1A), some- nounced. Reproductive system didelphic, times additional papilla-like structures amphidelphic, reflexed. Vulva at mid- present near labial papillae. Four cephalic body, sometimes on a protuberance (Fig. papillae. Amphids present, small. Stoma 1B), with (Fig. 1C) or without (Fig. 1B) collapsed; cheilorhabdions pronounced, epiptygma. Females oviparous or ovovivip- forming a ring resembling two large scle- arous with juveniles developing up to the rotized dots in lateral view. Other parts of infective stage (IJ) before emerging from stoma forming an asymmetrical funnel the body of the female. Tail longer or with thick anterior end. Esophagus rhab- shorter than anal body width, with or with- ditoid with metacorpus slightly swollen, out prominent phasmids (Figs. 1D,4B). narrow isthmus surrounded by nerve ring, Male (Fig. 2): Smaller than female. An- and large basal bulb with reduced valve. terior end usually with six labial papillae, FIG. 1. Steinernema SEM of first-generation female. A) Face view of Steinernema glaseri showing cephalic papillae, labial papillae, amphids, and stoma. B) Vulva on a protuberance of S. glaseri. C) Vulva of S. scapterisci with double-flapped epiptygma. D) Tail of S. scapterisci. (After Nguyenand Smart [12, 17]). All magnifications based on scale bar inC:A = 13.6p,m,B = 8.6p,m,C = 15~m,D = 38p,m. 288 Journal of Nematology, Volume 28, No. 3, September 1996 four large cephalic papillae, and usually 1994 Mracek (9) redescribed S. kraussei with perioral disc (Fig. 2A). Esophagus from Czechoslovakia and re-established it similar to that of female. Testis single, re- as the type species. Recently, Reid (26), us- flexed; spicules paired; gubernaculum ing DNA analysis of several species and long, sometimes as long as spicule (Fig. isolates of Steinernema, constructed a phy- 2B,C); bursa absent. Tail tip rounded, dig- logenetic tree that indicated that S. kraussei itate, or mucronate. One single and 10 to and S. glaseri were different species). 14 pairs of genital papillae present with 7 to 10 pairs precloacal (Fig. 2D-F). Neosteinernema Nguyen and Smart Infective juvenile (IJ) (= third-stage infec- Fig. 4 tive juvenile) (Fig. 3): Stoma collapsed. Body slender, with or without a sheath (cu- Diagnosis: Female with phasmids promi- ticle of second-stage juvenile). Cuticle an- nent, on a protuberance, located in poste- nulated. Lateral fields present with 4 to 9 rior half of tail; tail longer than anal body incisures and 3 to 8 smooth ridges (Fig. width (T/ABW = 1.10 - 1.68) (Fig. 4B); 3B-D). Esophagus and intestine appearing ovoviviparous, juveniles molting and be- reduced. Excretory pore distinct. Tail coming infective juveniles before exiting conoid or filiform (Figs. 3D,4F). Phasmids, the female body. Male smaller than fe- located about mid-tail, prominent, incon- male, posterior part with one ventral and spicuous, or not observed. 13 to 14 pairs of genital papillae, eight of the pairs preanal; phasmids prominent, Type genus: Steinernema Travassos, tail tip digitate (Fig. 4D); spicule foot- 1927 shaped with a hump on dorsal side (Fig. 4C). Gubernaculum almost as long as spi- Syn.: Neoaplectana Steiner, 1929 cule. Infective juveniles with head slightly swollen (Fig. 4E); phasmid large, tail Other genus: Neosteine,~nemaNguyen elongate or filiform, as long as esophagus, & Smart, 1994 usually curved at end (Fig. 4F), ratio c about 5.5. Steinernema Travassos Type and only species: Neosteinernema long- Figs. 1-3 icurvicauda Nguyen & Smart, 1994. Diagnosis: Female with phasmids not ob- served, tail (T) shorter than anal body IDENTIFICATION OF STEINERNEMA SPECIES width (ABW) (T/ABW = 0.52 - 0.81) (Fig. 1D); oviparous but some eggs often When possible, specimens used to iden- retained in the body. Male smaller than fe- tify species of Steinernema should be reared male, posterior part usually with one single in vivo (Galle,4a meUonella or another ap- and eleven pairs of genital papillae; phas- propriate host), and adults of the first gen- raids not observed, tail terminus rounded eration should be dissected from the ca- (Fig. 2D-F) or with mucron. Infective ju- davers. Infective juveniles collected for a venile with phasmids small or inconspicu- week after their first emergence from ca- ous, tail conoid and much shorter than davers usually meet the criteria of the orig- esophagus (at most 65% of esophagus inal descriptions but the body lengths of length), ratio c I> 10. those collected after that period tend to be Type species: Steinernema kraussei (Steiner, significantly shorter (16). All data may be 1923) Travassos, 1927. (Steinernema obtained from either live or fixed speci- kraussei was considered the type species of mens. the genus until 1990 when Poinar (22) des- Species of Steinernema can be identified ignated S. glaseri as type species and con- with the following key, but identity should sidered S. kraussei as species inquirenda. In be verified by comparing its morphomet- Identification of Entomopathogen Nematodes: Nguyen, Smart 289 FIG. 2. SteinernemaSEM of first-generation male. A) Anterior region of S. g/aser/with large cephalic papillae and smaller labial papillae. B) Spicule of S. anomali, lateral view. C) Gubernaculum of S. glaseri, ventral view. D) Caudal region of S. anomali showing spicule and gubernaculum tips and posterior genital papillae. E,F) Posterior region of S. anomali showing 7 (E) to 10 (F) of the paired preanal genital papillae, the single ventral preanal papilla, and extended spicules. (After Nguyen and Smart [14, 16]). All magnifications based on scale bar in E: A = 10 Ixm, B = 23.1 Ixm, C = 17.6 Ixm, D = 20 Ixm, E = 60 Ixm, F = 50 ~m. 290 Journal of Nematology, Volume