Abstract:
Soil samples were collected in the southwestern parts of South Africa to obtain entomopathogenic nematodes of
the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae. In total, 498 samples were randomly taken from cultivated
and uncultivated habitats, including deciduous fruit orchards, vineyards and natural vegetation. Entomopathogenic
nematodes were isolated from 36 samples (7 %) by baiting with larvae of Galleria mellonella (greater wax moth).
Heterorhabditis was the dominant genus isolated, while Steinernema was rare. The most common species was
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Other species identified were Heterorhabditis zealandica and Steinernema
khoisanae. The isolation of H. zealandica represents a new record for South Africa, whereasS. khoisanae has thus
far been recorded only from South Africa.
