A type specimen of Steinernema kraussei and a population of this nematode from the type host were compared with three species of Neoaplectana. No characters were found to separate the two genera and so Neoplectana Steiner, 1929 is considered to be a junior synonym of Steinernema Travassos, 1927. Valid species now included within the genus Steinernema are: S. kraussei (Steiner, 1923) Travassos, 1927 (type species); S. glaseri (Steiner, 1929) ncomb.; S. feltiue (Filipjev, 1934) n.comb. and S. bibionis (Bovien, 1937) n.comb. A key is given to these four species and their junior synonyms are listed.
Head and cuticular structures of the Steinernematidae: Steinernema kraussei, Neoaplectana glaseri, N. carpocapsae and N. bibionis were compared by scanning electron microscopy. In both genera and all species studied one ring of six labial papillae and one of four cephalic papillae were clearly visible, which shows that Steinernema and Neoaplectana cannot be separated on the number of head papillae alone. Details of the morphology of the lips, openings of secretory organs and of the surface of the cuticle are given. Invasive juveniles have only one ring of four cephalic papillae.
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