Juvenile development and life cycle of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and H-indica (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae)

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and H. indica were cultured in vitro in monoxenic liquid cultures. Nematodes were examined for morphological characters which can be used to determine the sexes in all juvenile stages. When hatching from the egg no sex-specific characters could be distinguished. Twelve hours later sex determination resulted in male phenotypes which were identified by the asymmetric shape of the primordial testis. Female phenotypes, with symmetrical primordial gonads, were observed 12 h later. Of the eggs laid by the parental hermaphrodite 57% developed to amphimictic adults. The other individuals were determined to become automictic dauer juveniles which further develop to hermaphrodites. The pre-dauer J1 was the last of the first juvenile stages to be determined. They moult to the pre-dauer second stage juvenile (J2D) which is distinguished from the other J2 stages by a thin and spindle-like shape, elongated pharynx and needle-like tip of the tail. The late JD2 stage is immobile, pharyngeal pumping ceases and intercalated fat reserves make it appear darker then the amphimictic J2. The further development to adults is described and the occurrence of the different stages in liquid culture documented.