DESCRIPTION OF NEW SPECIES OF METARHABDITIS LONGICAUDATA (NEMATODA: RHABDITIDAE) WITH THREE NEW RECORDS FROM SINDH, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Many rhabditid nematodes like Metarhabditis belonging to the bacteriophage group are considered to be necromenic associates of insects and used to be facultative entomopathogenic nematodes or as biocontrol agents. These nematodes can be safely used against insect pests of different crops and vegetables. In the present study, nematode specimens of new and known species were collected from different areas of Sindh and isolated from soil samples by baiting technique using last instar Galleria mellonella. One new nematode species Metarhabditis longicaudata n. sp. and three new records of M. adenobia, M. amasactae, and M. rainai (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) were found from Sindh. M. longicaudata n. sp. differed from the species of the genus Metarhabditis by having long un-covered tail spike. It was also characterized by a large sized male 1286 (1154-1325) µm; longer male tail 69.5 (62-76) µm; longer spicule 43 (40-46) µm; leptoderan bursa; longer gubernaculum 27 (20-34) µm. The female was also of large size of 1507 (1366-1684) µm with larger tail 102 (94-112) µm and longer pharynx 231 (206-265) µm. The genus Metarhabditis is reported for the first time from Sindh, Pakistan.