Revised 02/26/24
Rhabditida
Rhabditoidea
Heterorhabditidae Poinar, 1975
Obligate insect parasites. Infective juveniles carry symbiotic bacteria in the bacterial chamber of the intestine.
Both hermaphrodites and amphimictic females and males occur (Nguyen and Smart,
1996).
References
Nguyen, K.B. and Smart, G.C. 1996. Identification of entomopathogenic nematodes in the Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae. J. Nemtology 28:286-300.
Poinar, G.O. Jr. 1975. Description and biology of a new insect parasitic Rhabditoid, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora N. Gen., N. Sp.(Rhabditida; Heterorhabditidae N. Fam.).Nematologica 21:463-470.
Stock, S.P and Reid, A.P. 2004. Biosystematics of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae, Heterorhabditidae): current status and future directions. Nematology Monographs and Persdectives 2:435-446.