ADDITION OF A NEW INSECT PARASITIC NEMATODE, OSCHEIUS TIPULAE, TO IRANIAN FAUNA.

On behalf of an ongoing project on diversity of insect pathogenic and insect parasitic nematodes of Iran, a new species was collected and characterized. This species was collected in soil from the Mashhad, Arak, and Mahalat regions of Iran through 2011-2012 using Galleria larvae baits. Based on morphologic and morphometric traits as well as SEM images, the species tentatively has been identified as Oscheius tipulae. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS and 18S rDNA genes confirmed the species delimitation. This is the first record of this species from Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]