Eight nonselective insect-parasitic nematodes from two families, Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae, were selected for trials under laboratory conditions to determine pathogenicity against the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferr. The experimental design was based upon pergamine coffee set in sand. Included in the tests were a variety of strains: one Costa Rican and three native strains of Steinernema spp. from Mexico; one commercial strain of Steinernema carpocapsae; and three Costa Rican strains of Heterorhabditis sp. Mortality between 10-90% was observed when the nematodes were applied to the sand at concentrations of 12.5-400 infective juveniles per insect. Four strains displayed relatively higher levels of pathogenicity, three of which were Heterorhabditis sp., the other one was a commercial strain of Steinernema carpocapsae. An LC50 of 60 infective juveniles per insect was observed for the most virulent strain LIM-1 Heterorhabditis sp.
