Steinernema hattingi n. sp., a new entomopathogenic nematode (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) from South Africa.

A new entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema hattingi n. sp., was isolated during a survey in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. Morphological and morphometric traits place the species in the glaseri-group, characterised by large infective juveniles (IJs) with average body length exceeding 1000 μm. The IJs of S. hattingi n. sp. have a mean body length of 1059 μm, lateral fields composed of eight equally spaced ridges (nine incisures) at mid-body (formula 2, 6, 8, 4, 2), a relatively short tail (c ratio 16 on average) with a hyaline region occupying approximately 45% of its length, and are relatively slender (a ratio 33 on average). Male spicules are curved, brown, with a pointed tip and an elongate manubrium (length/width ratio 1.8:1); male tails are non-mucronate or occasionally with a short papilla-like mucron in second-generation males. First-generation females have a moderately protruding, slightly asymmetrical vulva without postanal swelling, whereas second-generation females display a protruding, asymmetrical vulva and a slightly developed postanal swelling. The species is further characterised by sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and partial 28S rDNA (D2-D3) regions. Phylogenetic analyses place S. hattingi n. sp. within the Khoisanae clade of the glaseri-group.