SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE STUDIES OF SPICULES AND GUBERNACULA OF STEINERNEMA SPP. (NEMATA, STEINERNEMATIDAE)

Spicules and gubernacula of Steinernema species were dissected out and observed under a scanning electron microcope (SEM), showing that morp hological characteristics of these structures can be used for species differentiation. This paper describes and presents SEM micrographs of spicules and gubernacula of 11 species of Steinernema and shows how th ey can be used to recognize species. The species discussed are S. affi ne, S. anomalae, S. bicornutum, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri , S. intermedium, S. kraussei, S. kushidai, S. longicaudum, S. neocurt illae, S. puertoricense, S. riobrave, S. scapterisci.