Use of Starch Gel Electrophoresis in the Taxonomy of the Genus Heterorhabditis (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae)

Heterorhabditis isolated from Asia, Australasia, Cuba, Europe and the U.S.A. were examined using starch gel electrophoresis and enzyme specific stains. The data were analyzed by constructing a dissimilarity matrix and cluster analysis. Several isolates previously identified as H. heliothidis occurred in groups different from that of the type strain of this species. Analysis of the data suggests that the 22 strains examined represent 3-8 species of Heterorhabditis and that the type strains of H. bacteriophora and H. heliothidis may be conspecific.