title: Steinernema tophus sp. n. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa.
abstract: A new entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema tophus n. sp. is described from South Africa. Morphological, molecular (ribosomal gene sequence data) together with cross-hybridization studies were used for diagnostics and identification purposes. Both molecular and morphological data indicate the new species belongs to the 'glaseri-group' of Steinernema spp. Key morphological diagnostic traits for S. tophus n. sp. include the morphology of the spicules and gubernaculum. Morphometric traits of third-stage infective juveniles, including total body length (average 1,046 µm), tail length (average 70 µm), location of the excretory pore (average 92 µm), D% (average 63), E% (average 132) and H% (average 32) values are definitive. In addition to these morphological characters, analysis of rDNA (28S and ITS) gene sequences depict this Steinernema species as a distinct and unique entity.
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Biology, 09010 Aydin, Turkey; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Çimen
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Arizona. 1140 E. South Campus Dr. Tucson, AZ 85721-0036, Arizona, USA; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Ming-Min
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: South African Agricultural Research Council, Small Grain Institute, Private Bag X29, Bethlehem, 9701, South Africa; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatting
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Biology, 09010 Aydin, Turkey; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazir
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Arizona. 1140 E. South Campus Dr. Tucson, AZ 85721-0036, Arizona, USA; Email: spstock@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: S Patricia
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Stock
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D058507:Host Specificity; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010802:Phylogeny; D017168:Rhabditida / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D013019:South Africa