Occurrence and distribution of the entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis indica in Indonesia

Soil samples from 79 sites on five islands of Indonesia were baited with in sects for the recovery of entomopathogenic nematodes. Heterorhabditis and S teinernema were equally prevalent, and were recovered from 11.7% of samples representing 20.3% of sites sampled. Both genera were recovered from coast al sites only. Entomopathogenic nematodes were more prevalent on the Molucc an islands of Ambon and Seram than on Java or Bali. They were not detected on Sulawesi, where non-coastal sites only were sampled. RFLP analysis was u sed in the identification of nematode isolates. Heterorhabditis indica was the only heterorhabditid identified. Two RFLP types ofSteinernema were iden tified.