First report on four species of predatorynematodes, mononchids (Nematoda : Mononchida) from Nepal

Abstract

A nematological survey was conducted for free and plant nematodes affecting economically important vegetable crops grown in Bhaktapur and Kavre, hilly districts of Nepal with altitudes ranging between 1315m to 1500m which revealed various plant parasitic nematodes along with four species of predatory nematodes belonging to the order Mononchida. These species were Mononchus aquaticus Coetzee, 1968, Iotonchus indicus Jairajpuri 1969, Mylonchulus contractus Jairajpuri, 1970 and Parahandronchus shakili (Jairajpuri, 1969) Mulvey, 1978. The measurements, descriptions, remarks and illustrations along with habitat and locality of these predatory nematodes are provided. These species are the first report from Nepal.