A Survey of the Native Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Fungi in the Soil of Southern Region of Syria

The occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes was assessed in soil samples collected from different orchards and fields in southern Syria. Nematodes and fungi were isolated from soil samples through baiting them by the larvae of wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). A total of 157 soil samples were collected from different orchard habitats during 2008. Only two samples were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes (1.27% occurrence) that were identified as Steinernema sp. and 26 samples were positive for entomopathogenic fungi (16.56% occurrence) belonging to Nomurea riley, Beauveria sp., Paecilomyces sp., and Aspergillus sp.