A List of The Insect Parasitic Nematodes of Meerut(U.p.)

A survey of insect parasitic nematodes carried out different localities of Meerut (U.P.) revealed the occurrence of over 14 species of nematodes belonging to the family Thelastomatidae and Oxyuridae. A list of such nematodes associated with various localities has been given. Nematodes are a type of roundworm in the phylum Nematoda. This is a different order of animals from the segmented worms, such as earthworms and flatworms. Nematodes are abundant, particularly in soil. Many feed on bacteria, some attack plants, and others can be parasites of animals. However, each species is usually specific in its habits. insect parasitic nematodes.   Nematodes constitute a compact group of lower invertebrates, highly diversified and most numerous multicellular animals on the earth. They are second to only insects in the number of individuals. At present about 15000 different species of nematodes have been documented by workers but the estimated numbers of existing species is supposed to be about 5x10 5 . In India, enthusiastic work in the field of nematology started only during the last 25 years. However, a limited work on insect parasitic nematodes of the U.P.,India. Brief historical perspective of the growth and development of nematology in India have been reported by various authors from time to time like Prasad (1964), Swarup and koshy (1965), Sheshadari (1970) and swarup and Sheshadari (1974). Basir monograph (1956) summarized the description of some important insect parasitic nematodes described from India upto 1955. It also includes the complete revision of the existing genera and species belonging to the families Thelastomatidae and Oxyuridae. Rao (1958) also tried to give a consolidated description of insect parasitic nematodes of peninsular part of India. The result of the qualitative survey is presented in the following table in which the insect inhabiting nematodes listed below.