Biodiversity of insect-parasitic nematodes in soil pest insect (Orthoptera, Gryllidae and Gryllotalpidae) in wheat fields of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

This work was conducted in wheat fields of the Argentine pampas providing an extensive list of nematodes of soil pest insects. Adults and nymphs of crickets and mole crickets, were found parasited by nematodes. Twenty-four nematode species from six families were registered. Thelastomatid nematodes were the most numerous group while Pseudonimidae, Travassosinematidae and Diplogasteridae families were the least represented. The Pampean region constituted an area with high diversity of nematodes associated with insects and some of them, could be considered as biocontrol agents of troublesome insect pests within the agricultural areas of Argentina.