Steinernema beitlechemi Çimen, Puža, Nermut’, Hatting,Ramakuwela, Faktorová & Hazir, 2016

Summary: Steinernema beitlechemi was isolated from soil samples collected in Bethlehem, Free State province, South Africa. The infective juvenilesf S. beitlechemi are characterized by a body length of 696 (606-768) μm, nerve ring position of 96 (86-105) μm from the labial region and lateral fields with six ridges at the mid-body. The first generation male can be distinguished by a spicule length of 93 (88-100) μm and presence of 12 pairs of genital papillae. The first generation female has a moderately protruding vulva and a rounded tail tip bearing one spine-like projection. The species is further characterized by sequences of the ITS and partial 28S regions of the ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic analyses showed S. beitlechemi to be a member of a strongly supported monophyletic clade with three other African species: S. sacchari, S. cameroonense and S. nyetense in “feltiae group”. The sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers KT373856 (ITS sequence, strain SGI-197), KT373855 (ITS sequence, strain NWGA- 33), KT580949 (28S sequence, strain SGI-197) and KT878316 (18S sequence, strain SGI-197)

 Specific epithet derived from Bethlehem, the town in the wheat-growing area from which the species was isolated and derived from the Jewish word Beit Lechem, meaning ‘house of bread’.