Slug-parasitic nematodes

Abstract

Importance, mode of action and developmental cycle of slug-parasitic nematodes, which can be important biological control agents of slugs from Limacidae and Arionidae families - are presented in the paper. In different parts of the world slugs are economically important pest of cultivated plants, while the use of slug-parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is one of the most important alternative for chemical limacides. Until now slug-parasitic nematodes were less investigated as biological control agents compared to entomopathogenic nematodes. In last twenty years many researches had been done with the aim to study their importance more accurately.