New Report and Characterization of the Nematopathogen Teratorhabditis synpapillata on Red Palm Weevil (RPW) from Iraq

Abstract

The present study reports on the identification of a nematopathogen Teratorhabditis synpapillata, a newly identified species, that has the potential as an effective control agent against the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, in Iraq. The species was collected from infected RPW adults and larvae in Basrah Province, southern Iraq. Detailed descriptions include the characteristics of both male and female specimens, the male genitalia, and other significant taxonomic traits. Molecular identification was carried out using the 28S ribosomal RNA gene. The sequences for the Iraqi specimens of T. synpapillata were deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under accession numbers LC860073, LC860074, and LC860075.

Keywords:

 Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, nematopathogen, Teratorhabditis synpapillata, Iraq.