ABSTRACT:
Entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidaeand Heterorhabditidae) were studied in Polish soils according to the: season, habitat and altitude. In total, 167 soil samples were taken from 111 localities in Poland along north-south transect. Entomopathogenic nematodes were isolated from 53 soil samples (31.7%). Nematodes species were identified genetically from 16 samples, and in all other 37 samples nematodes were determined to the genus level. Three species of the genus Steinernema (Steinernema kraussei, S. feltiae, S. carpocapsae) and one of the genusHeterorhabditis(Heterorhabditis megidis) were recorded. Steinernema feltiaewas the most common species. There was not a significant association between the occurrence of nematodes and season or altitude. The type of habitat significantly (P<0.05) affected the occurrence of nematodes. Nematodes were most frequent in samples collected from coniferous forests (20 findings).
Key words:
distribution;
Steinernema
;
Heterorhabditis
; Poland; season; habitat
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