Abstract
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) play several roles in the soil ecosystem. While EPNs are generally thought of in the context of reducing the density of pest populations when they are applied, they are also natural components of soil food webs and exert considerable influence on the population dynamics of many players in the system in addition to the intended targets of biological control efforts (Hodson, Siegel, & Lewis, 2012). They are lethal parasites of insects, but not all of the species they infect are the targets for which they are applied. They are also prey and hosts to a variety of other soil organisms. Here, we attempt explain the fate of EPNs after they are applied to soil in the context of the complicated interactions among members of soil food webs.