A survey of entomopathogenic nematodes of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in Damascus countryside of Syria

A survey of entomopathogenic nematodes was conducted in Damascus countryside from January 2011 to December 2013. Soil samples were tested for the presence of steinernematid and heterorhabditid nematodes by baiting with Galleria mellonella larvae. Of the 189 soil samples studied 17 were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes (9%), with 11 of these positive samples (65%) containing Heterorhabditis and 6 (35%) Steinernema isolates. Morphological studies were carried out to characterize eight isolates. The Heterorhabditis isolates collected in Syria were identified as Heterorhabditis zealandica (Poinar, 1990), Heterorhabditis indica (Poinar et al., 1992) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1990). Heterorhabditis zealandica was isolated from 4 sites. Heterorhabditis indica and H. bacteriophora were isolated from two sites each. Entomopathogenic nematodes were mainly found in stone fruit orchards and apple orchards but also in citrus groves, vineyards, and walnut orchards.