Three new species of Nematodes from sugarcane fields in Nigeria

Three new species of plant nematodes belonging to the genus Boleodorus Thorne, 1941 ; Paratylenchus Micoletzky, 1922 and Xiphinema Cobb, 1913 are described from the sugarcane fields in Gengola state, North East, Nigeria. Boleodorus acuruus n.sp. is closely related to B. clavicaudatus Thorne, 1941 but differs in length of body and spear and in shape of lip region. The shifting of B. clavicaudatus to Boleodoroides Mathur et al., 1966 is disputed. Paratylenchus variatus n.sp. differs from the closely related P. leptus Raski, 1975 in shape of lip region and in the sizc of spear, and from P. colbrani Raski, 1975 in having only two or three incisures in the lateral fields, in shape of tail and absence of males. Xiphinema brevistylus n.sp. differs from the closely related X. tarjani Luc, 1975 in absence of "blind canal" in tail, smaller odontostyle and odontophore and anteriorly located vulva, and from X. vulgare Tarjan, 1964 in smaller and differently shaped tail, smaller odontostyle and odontophore and posteriorly located vulva

The copulatory behaviour of Cruznema lambdiense (Nematoda: Rhabditidae)

Studies on the copulatory behaviour of Cruznema lambdiense revealed that copulation involved three distinct steps : i) attachment of male to female and localization of the vulva, ii) penetration by the spicules and iii) insemination. The bursa aided in gripping the female while the spicules located the vulval opening, but did not take part in channelizing the sperms from the male to the female reproductive tracts. Females continued feeding during copulation. The mean number of copulations per day varied from 3 to 7.2 and the sperms transferred per day from 61 to 176. On an average, 20-33 sperms were transferred per copulation per day. In its life span, a male copulated 15-32 times and transferred a total of 517-754 sperms. When males were isolated for more than two days, both the number of copulations and the number of sperms transferred decreased. As the isolation period of the males increased, the time required for the first copulation also increased

Opisthodorylairnus N. gen., and some new and known species of Dorylaimoidea (Nematoda) from India

A new genus Opisthodorylaimus closely related to Thornenema Andrassy, 1959 and Mesodorylaimus Andrhssy, 1959 is proposed, along with the description of three new species, viz., O. maqsoodi n. sp. (type), O. caudatus n. sp., and O. chamoliensis n. sp. It differs from Thornenema in having an unsclerotized lip region and a broad odontostyle, while from Mesodorylaimus it differs in having an opisthomonodelphic reproductive system as well as a broad odontostyle. Jairajpuria oryzae n. sp. differs from J. shamimi Baqri & Jana, 1980 in the shape of lip region, posteriorly situated vulva, unsclerotized vagina and in the absence of a sphincter at the oviduct-uterus junction. Dorylaimus siddiqii n. sp. is close to D. thornei AndrBssy, 1969, but differs in having a shorter and narrower body, differently shaped lip region, smaller and narrower odontostyle and ina bthsen ce of vulval papillae. Calodorylaimus indicus n. sp. differs from C. octo Andrassy, 1969 in having a smaller body, shorter odontostyle, longer oesophagus, posterior vulva and smaller spicules and tail. The male of Thornenema cavalcantii is redescribed. Laimydorus pseudostagnalis and Afrodorylaimus geniculatusa re reportedf or the first time from India

Nematodes of high altitudes in India. X. Two new species of Drepanodorylaimus Jairajpuri, 1966 from Manipur, India

Two new species of nematodes belonging to the genus Drepanodorylaimus Jairajpuri, 1966 are described frrom Manipur, India. Drepanodorylaimus maqsoodi n.sp., 1.40-1.64 mm long, labial papillae projecting above the contour of truncated lip region, amphidial apertures large, odontostyle 32-35 μ m long, prerectum about three anal body widths long and tail filiform, six to seven anal body widths long, D. similis n. sp., 1.54-1.65 mm long, odontostyle 24-26 μm long, prerectum about two and half anal body widths long and tail filiform about eight anal body widths long. A key to the species of the genus Drepanodorylaimys is provided

Nematodes of high altitudes in India. IX. Descriptions of two new species of Rotylenchus (Nematoda : Tylenchida)

Two new species of Rotylenchus Filipjev, 1936 from the area of Himachal Pradesh, India, are described and figured. R. dalhousiensis n. sp., is characterized in having a body 0 .55-0.68 mm long, head marked with 5-6 annules, basal annule of lip region without longitudinal lines, spear 24-28 pm and phasmids preanal. This new species is close to R. quartus (Andrissy, 1958) Sher, 1961, R. fallorobustus Sher, 1965, R. citri Rashid & Khan, 1973 and R. helicus Husain & Khan, 1967. R. neorobustus n. sp. is characterized in having a body 0.77-0.98 mm long, head marlred with 5-6 annules, basal annule of lip region with 24 longitudinal lines, spear 36-40 μ m and phasmids preanal. This new species is close to R. indorobustus Jairajpuri & Baqri, 1973, R. fallorobustus Sher, 1965, R. agnetis Szczygiel, 1968 and R. pruni Rashid & Husain, 1972. In both cases only females have been found

Nematodes of high altitudes in India. VIII. Pungentus duvatus N. sp. with a key to species of the genus Putzgetztus (Nematoda: Dorylaimida)

Pungentus clauatus n. sp. from the Simla hills (India) is distinct from al1 other species of the genus in the possession of an oesophago-intestinal disc and a short, clavate tail. This new species is close to P. siluestris (De Man, 1912) Coomans & Geraert, 1962 but differs in having narrower amphidial apertures, smaller odontophore and different tail shape. Alr ey to the valid species and a lisotf species inquirendae of the genus Pungentus are provided. Two nomenclatorial rearrangements are proposed : P. siluestris Eroshenlro, 1976 becomes a junior synonym of P. granosus Eroshenlro, 1976, (notet hat the specific name siluestris was preoccupied by P. siluestris (De Man, 1912) Coomans & Geraert, 1962) ; P. medianus Eroshenko, 1976 is considered a junior synonym of P. purnilus Andrassy, 1963

Attraction of mononchoides longicaudatus and M. fortidens (Nematoda: Diplogasterida) towards prey and factors influencing attraction

The attraction of Mononchoides longicaudatus and M. fortidens towards prey and factors influencing their attraction were studied on agar plates. These predators were attracted towards excised and non-excised (live) prey in response to prey secretions, attractants. Predators also responded positively towards agar containing unidentified bacteria. M. longicaudatus and M. fortidens showed preference for the prey nematodes which were tested either alive or by cutting into two pieces (excised). Hirschmanniella oryzae, Tylenchorhynchus mashhoodi and Hoplolaimus indicus attracted predators most while Longidorus SP., and Helicotylenchus indicus elicited least response from the predators. The rest of the prey nematodes attracted predators moderately. Both species of predators were also attracted towards their own individuals. Different factors viz., prey number, temperature, incubation period of prey, starvation of predators and distance of predators from prey affected attraction of the predators towards Hirschmanniella oryzae and the second stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita. Both predators were attracted in maximum numbers when 50 prey nematodes were incubated for 12 h in Petri-dishes, at 25°-30°. Starvation of predators increased their attraction towards prey; increase in prey distance decreased attraction

Three new species of the genus Belondira thorne, 1939 frorn Manipur, India

Three new species belonging to the genusB elondira Thorne, 1939 have been described andfi gured from Manipur, India. Belondira microdoran . sp.c ollected from around the roootfs wild plants from Imphacl omes close to B. caudata Thorne, 1939 and B. tenuidens Thorne, 1964 but differs from botho f them in having a narrower bodloyn, ger anterior uterine sac, smaller tail and in the presence of males. Belondira tenuidora n. sp. collected from around the roots of grasses from Imphal is also very similar to B. caudata and B. tenuidens. From the former it differs in having posteriorly located vulva, smaller prerectum and longer tail and from the latter in having a smaller body, longer oesophagus and tail. Belondira affinis n. sp. collected from around the roots of Musa paradisiaca L. from Waithou hills cornes close to B. syedi Suryawanshi, 1972 and B. goldeni Suryawanshi, 1972 but differs from both of them in having heavily sclerotized cephalic framework and in the length and shapeof odontostyle and odontophore. A liey to the species of the genus Belondira has also been provided

Some factors influencing predation by Mononchus aquaticus

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A study of the intestinal contents of some mononchs

The intestinal contents of over one thousand specimens of thirty three species belonging to nine genera of the order Mononchida were analysed to determine their range and preference for prey. The study showed that mononchs feed upon tylenchs, dorylaims, mononchs and free-living saprophagous nematodes besides rotifers. Cuticular remains of al1 types including trophi of rotifers and other unidentifiable objects of prey were of frequent occurrence. Forty five percent of the predators had prey in their intestine. Feeding of different mononchs is polyvalent and predation aleatory. However, more predators 75% had free-living saprophagous nematodes within the intestine rather than tylenchs (45%) or dorylaims (42%). Pratylenchus, Hoplolaimus, Tylenchorhynchus, Tylencholaimus, Aporcelaimus, Thornenema, Iotonchus, Mylonchulus, Rhabditis, Acrobeloides and Chiloplacus were found most frequently in the intestine of different species of mononchs. Parahadronchus shakili appeared to be most active predator as 68 % of its specimens had prey in their intestine while Coomansus indicus was least active with only 21% having prey. Twenty percent predators were cannibals while 27% devoured mononchs belonging to other species/genera. Mylonchulus spp., and Iotonchus baqrii did not contain any prey or its remains in their intestine. None to eight prey could be present in the intestine of a single predator