Steinernema
australe Edgington, buddie, Tymo, Hunt, Nguyen, France, Merino & Moore, 2009
Summary
– A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema australe, was isolated from a soil sample taken close to the beach on Isla
Magdalena, an island in the Pacific Ocean, 2 km from mainland Chile. Morphologically the new
species belongs to the glaseri-group and is characterised by
morphometrics of the infective juvenile which has a very long body of 1316
(1162-1484) μm, excretory pore located far posterior to the anterior
extremity (110 (95-125) μm), exceptionally long tail of 103 (92-114) μm,
H% = 51 (42-61), E% = 107 (94-122) and a ratio = 35 (31-38). The first generation
male has 72 (55-78) μm long spicules, a 45 (36-51) μm long gubernaculum
and SW% = 172 (118-196). The
first generation female can be recognised by well developed double epiptygmata,
the lack of a prominent postanal swelling, a mucron on the tail tip and (in 60%
of individuals) one to two subsidiary mucrons. Sequences of the ITS and D2D3
regions of the ribosomal DNA confirm that S. australe is a valid
species.