Laboratory infection of spiders and harvestmen arachnida araneae and opiliones with neoaplectana and heterorhabditis nematodes rhabditoidea

Poinar, G. O. Jr; Thomas, G. M.

Specimens of the aerial spiders, Pholcus phalangiodes and Latrodectus mactans, a ground spider, Pirata sp., and a harvestman, Phalangium sp., were placed on damp fiter paper containing the entomogenous nematodes, Neoaplectana carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis heliothidis. Representatives of all four hosts were killed by the above nematodes. In Pholcus, Pirata and Latrodectus, the nematodes developed to the adult stage but did not multiply. In the case of Phalangium, the nematodes reproduced and formed infective juveniles. The present report establishes that under ideal conditions, neoaplectanid and heterorhabditid nematodes are capable of infecting, killing and with one host, reproducing in arachnids.