Steinernema kushidai n. sp. (Nematoda : Steinernematidae) Associated with Scarabaeid Beetle Larvae From Shizuoka, Japan

Steinernema kushidai n. sp. is described from the cadavers of scarabaeid beetle larvae which were reared in soil collected in Hamakita, Shizuoka, Japan. This new species is closely related to S. feltiae and S. intermedia (=Neoaplectana intermedia), but distinguished from them by the distance from the head to the excretory pore of all stages, the shape of spicules and gubernaculum of male adults, and the body length of the infective juveniles. The life cycle of S. kushidai n. sp. is comparable to that generally accepted for the genus, but characterized by a rare production of second generation adult. The nematode was successfully maintained on either dog food agar or chicken offal medium.