Development of Steinernema feltiae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) in larvae of Chaetonyx robustus (Coleoptera: Orphnidae)

Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) infects and reproduces in larvae of Chaetonyx robustus Schaum, 1862 (Coleoptera: Orphnidae), isolated from soil of the same habitat. Insects of the family Orphnidae are reported for the first time as hosts of entomopathogenic nematodes. Lack of establishment of natural infected larvae may be due to the lower susceptibility of C. robustus to nematode invasion and random factors related to the spatial distribution of infective juveniles in soil.