A new entomopathogenic nematode species and its association with a facultative necromenic nematode

This is the report of mixed infection of an entomopathogenic nematode and a free-living bacteriophage nematode both invading <i>Galleria mellonella</i> larvae, apparently showing strong intraguild competition. The entomopathogenic nematodes isolated in this study were classified as <i>Heterorhabditis kankabi</i> n. sp., and <i>Metarhabditis rainai</i> through light and electronic microscopy, sequencing of ITS and 28S ribosomal DNA regions, and phylogenetic analyses. The bacteriophage nematode <i>M. rainai</i> was recognized as a facultative necromenic nematode, as it consumed the food resources obtained by entomopathogenic nematodes, directly affecting the life cycle of the later by stopping their development and forcing them to leave <i>G. mellonella</i> in search of new hosts.