The biogeography of entomopathogenic nematodes in Ethiopia was determined in a survey conducted from June 2002 to April 2003 by use of the insect bait method. A total of 288 soil samples were collected from locations throughout Central, Southern, and Southwestern Ethiopia. Twenty sites (6.9%) were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes. Eighteen sites (6.3%) were positive for Steinernema yirgalemense and two sites (0.7%) were positive for Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. Entomopathogenic nematodes were not collected from the cereal-growing areas of central Ethiopia, which is dominated by heavy clay soils.
