Six insecticides from pyrethroid, organophosphate, carbamate, nereistoxin, agricultural antibiotics and neonicotinoid categories were tested against 2 plant parasitic nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita Chitwood, 1949, and Pratylenchus coffeae Zimmerman, 1898) and one free-living nematodes (Rhabditis species Goodey). The results indicated that abamectin and cartap had the strongest nematicidal effects on Meloidogyne incognita juveniles; while abamectin and profenofos had similar effects on Pratylenchus coffeae. Abamectin, cartap and profenofos had strong nematicidal effects on Rhabditis species. Imidacloprid had no nematicidal effects on all three nematodes tested. In the egg hatching rate experiments, abamectin, cartap and permethrin showed inhibition to Meloidogyne incognita egg hatching rates in 2 out of three experiments Abamectin and cartap decreased the penetration rate of Meloidogyne incognita, while abamectin, cartap and carbosulfan decreased that of Pratylenchus coffeae. The results in the pot experiments indicated some insecticides tested decreased the root knot galling index and root lesion index, but the nematicidal effects were not consistent throughout experiments, and could not reach the economic threshold. However, all six insecticides consistently decreased Pratylenchus coffeae populations in soil.