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Summary: A Bursaphelenchus species belonging to the abietinus group was isolated from a bark sample of Fagus japonica infested by an unidentified Dryocoetes bark beetle. The species is typologically characterised by its two-lined lateral field, mitten-shaped spicule possessing a well-developed and dorsally truncate condylus, narrow triangular rostrum and a distinct cucullus, the presence of seven (P1, P2, P3 papilliform and P5 gland-opening-like) male genital papillae, female vulva with side flap and the long, smoothly tapering and ventrally recurved female tail with strongly ventrally recurved distal part. The species is typologically close to B. irokophilus and B. rainulfi but can be distinguished from these two species by the shape of spicule rostrum, which is narrower in the new species. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a well-supported clade with B. rainulfi but can be distinguished from them by the differences in the SSU and D2-D3 LSU sequences. The new species is described as Bursaphelenchus ogawanus n. sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bursaphelenchus tadamiensis , which was initially isolated from a stag beetle, Dorcus striatipennis , collected from sap flow of Quercus crispula in Fukushima, north-eastern Japan, was re-isolated three times from sap flow of Quercus spp. in western Japan. The re-isolated populations were mostly morphologically consistent with the type population, but the male bursal flap showed high variations in the newly collected populations. Molecularly, the type and new populations showed differences in the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene, suggesting that the species is genetically divided into several local populations. The isolation pattern of B. tadamiensis , i.e. , the species was initially isolated from sap flow-associated beetles and subsequently isolated from sap flow, suggests that the species prefers and is adapted to the sap flow environment as its habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We isolated two tylenchid species belonging to the Sychnotylenchinae, Sychnotylenchus hibisci n. sp. and Neoditylenchus xiphydriae n. sp., from the bark beetle Ernoporus corpulentus and wood wasp Xiphydria ogasawarai , respectively. Sychnotylenchus hibisci n. sp. is characterised by its moderately stout body in both male and female, gubernaculum to spicule length ratio of one-third or less, crustaformeria structure composed of four columns with six large, rounded cells, and a broad female tail with a rounded terminus. The new species is closely related to S. ulmi , with which it shares body shape and gubernaculum to spicule length ratio, but is distinguished by the female tail shape and several morphometric values. Neoditylenchus xiphydriae n. sp. is characterised by its oval to leaf-shaped male bursa, male tail tip reaching the distal end of, and protruding beyond the bursa, a long post-vulval uterine sac (PUS), and a conical female tail with a narrowly rounded terminus. The species is typologically similar to N. pinophilus but is distinguished by its male spicule shape, gubernaculum to spicule length ratio, and longer PUS. Phylogenetically, the Sychnotylenchinae belongs under the Anguinidae (superfamily Sphaerularioidea) and is closely related to several Ditylenchus , Neotylenchus , Neomisticius , and Ficotylus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new Devibursaphelenchus species isolated from the bark of a dead Quercus aliena , which had been infected and killed by Japanese oak wilt, was collected in Shiga, Japan. The new species is characterised by the relatively large body in males (661-768 μ m) and females (893-1071 μ m), conspicuous male bursal flap, male spicule with long condylus and wide blade, female post-vulval uterine sac (PUS) 39-54 μ m or 1.6-2.3 times the vulval body diam. long, vestigial female anus, and female tail forming a strongly ventrally recurved elongate conoid with bluntly pointed or narrowly rounded terminus. The new species is typologically similar to D. lini , sharing a large body, conspicuous bursal flap, long PUS, and spicule shape, but can be distinguished from it by the absence of variation in the female tail shape, i.e. , the tail of the new species is always long and strongly ventrally curved, while the tail shape varies more in D. lini. A previous molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that the new species is fairly close to D. lini , but can be distinguished from it by the 1.0% (16 bp) difference within 1.6 kb of the 18S and 3.7% (26 bps) difference within 0.7 kb of the D2-D3 LSU ribosomal RNA genes. The newly found nematode is described and illustrated herein as D. alienae n. sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A Bursaphelenchus sp. belonging to the B. idius -group was isolated from a bark beetle, Ernoporus corpulentus , which had emerged from dead twigs of Hibiscus tiliaceus collected in Okinawa, in the subtropical region of Japan. In addition to its group-specific characters, i.e. , four lateral lines in both male and female and less developed capitulum and relatively broad blade of the male spicules, the species is characterised by a relatively slender female tail with various tip shapes. Molecularly, the species is close to B. fagi and B. tiliae based on SSU and D2-D3 LSU sequences, but can be clearly distinguished from these two species. The species is described and illustrated herein as B. hibisci n. sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A new aphelenchoidid entomoparasitic nematode was isolated from the body cavity of overwintering individuals of a tenebrionid beetle, Uloma marseuli , collected at Shiga, Japan. The nematode is characterised by its six equal-sized lips forming a dome shape continuous with body contour. It has a moderately thick stylet, with wide lumen, a long two-part long (conus + conophore) and elongate oval or pear-shaped metacorpus with glandular anterior part. The male spicules are separate with a well-developed condylus, triangular rostrum and smoothly and strongly curved calomus-lamina complex. A gubernaculum or apophysis is absent. There are two pairs of papilliform male genital papillae. Females lack a post-vulval uterine sac, have a seemingly vestigial rectum and anus, and conical tail. The combination of the typological characters of the species does not fit any currently accepted aphelenchoidid genus and is somewhat intermediate between the Ektaphelenchinae and Entaphelenchinae. The molecular phylogenetic analysis also suggested that the nematode is close to both Ektaphelenchoides (Ektaphelenchinae) and Peraphelenchus (Entaphelenchinae). Thus, the nematode is described and illustrated as Lenisaphelenchus ulomae n. gen., n. sp. and tentatively placed in the Ektaphelenchinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To investigate the phoretic association between nematodes in the genus Bursaphelenchus and cerambycid beetles in north-eastern Japan, Pinus densiflora logs were placed in two pine forests in the towns of Yamada and Hiranai as beetle oviposition sites. At 1-2 years after oviposition, adults of Monochamus saltuarius emerged from the logs placed in Yamada and adults of Acalolepta sejuncta and A. fraudatrix emerged from the logs placed in Hiranai, and Bursaphelenchus nematodes were recovered from two of these species (M. saltuarius and A. sejuncta). Morphometrics and a phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 and the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene indicated that both of these nematode populations were B. doui , which has previously only been known to use M. subfasciatus and A. fraudatrix as vectors. Therefore, this study demonstrated that this nematode utilises at least four species of beetles belonging to two genera as vectors in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bursaphelenchus acaloleptae n. sp. is described and figured based upon its morphological characters and molecular profiles. The new species belongs to the xylophilus -group of the genus and is typologically characterised by its secretory-excretory pore being located slightly posterior to the median bulb, weakly tapering, relatively broad and straight female tail with variously shaped terminus, and rounded male bursal flap with squared terminus. The new species is phylogenetically and biologically closest to B. luxuriosae. These cryptic species share the host (habitat) tree species, Aralia elata (Araliaceae), the same carrier insect species, Acalolepta luxuriosa (Cerambycidae), and a characteristic phoretic adult form. However, the new species is typologically distinguished from all other xylophilus -group species by the combination of the above-mentioned characters and molecular profiles (SSU and LSU molecular barcodes). Further, B. acaloleptae n. sp. can be distinguished from its closest relative, B. luxuriosae , by mating experiments, i.e. , these two species did not produce a viable F1 generation in reciprocal crossings, thereby confirming separate species status using the biological species concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of diplogastrid nematode, isolated in a previous survey of nematodes associated with stag beetles in Japan, is described as Parapristionchus giblindavisi n. gen., n. sp. Parapristionchus n. gen. differs from other diplogastrid genera chiefly by its stomatal morphology. Distinguishing the genus are the presence of a claw-like dorsal tooth in both the eurystomatous and stenostomatous forms and the division of the cheilostom into 12 plates lacking apical flaps. According to phylogenetic analysis of nine ribosomal protein gene sequences, Parapristionchus n. gen. shows deep divergence from other known genera. Molecular evidence strongly supports P giblindavisi n. gen., n. sp. + Pristionchus spp. as monophyletic with respect to all other diplogastrids examined. Congruent with a clade of P giblindavisi n. gen., n. sp. + Pristionchus spp. is the shared presence of a bifurcate P7 genital papilla. Discovery and description of a close sister group to Pristionchus, a model biological system, enables character polarisation in macroevolutionary studies of Pristionchus nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bursaphelenchus tadamiensis n. sp. is described. The new species was isolated during a field survey of nematodes associated with stag beetles. It was recovered from the dissected body of a Dorcus striatipennis, from Tadami, Fukushima, Japan. The new species is medium sized for the genus, with males 486-772 μm and females 643-997 μm in body length, and has four lateral lines, six male genital papillae (P1 ventral single papilla is missing or vestigial), mitten-shaped spicule with clear dorsal and ventral limbs, rather large squared bursal flap, vulva lacking flap, female tail long, tapering and ventrally curved. Based upon its diagnostic morphological characters, the new species belongs to the B. fungivorus group and is close to B. thailandae, B. willibaldi and B. braaschae. It is distinguished from these three species by morphology of the male bursal flap and several morphometric values, e.g., the V value of B. tadamiensis n. sp. is clearly larger than that of the above three species. The molecular phylogenetic analyses inferred from near full-length SSU and D2/D3 LSU supported the morphological observations, i.e., the new species is molecularly similar to B. thailandae, B. willibaldi, B. braaschae and B. kiyoharai. The stag beetle association of the new species may be an accidental phoresy, although the nematode could be undergoing carrier (vector) switching, because only two adult (no dauer juveniles) individuals were isolated from only one of 100 beetles examined. The insect organ with which the nematode was associated is unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neodiplogaster crenatae Kanzaki, Masuya & Kubono sp. n. and N. acaloleptae Kanzaki sp. n. are described and figured. Neodiplogaster crenatae sp. n. was isolated from the bark beetles Scolytoplatypus daimio and S. shogun (Scolytidae) emerging from dead logs of Fagus crenata, and was cultured on Botrytis cinerea growing on malt extract agar. Neodiplogaster crenatae sp. n. has male spicules which are relatively stout and arcuate in lateral view but curved to appear Y-shaped in ventral view; the male tail tip is bifurcate and the female tail is long and tapered. Neodiplogaster crenatae sp. n. appears closest to N. velata but is distinguished from it by spicular morphology and female tail length. Neodiplogaster acaloleptae sp. n. was isolated from the cerambycid beetle Acalolepta luxuriosa and reared on B. cinerea growing on potato dextrose agar. Neodiplogaster acaloleptae sp. n. has a conical male tail with narrow bursa covering the entire tail, smoothly tapered and strongly arcuate male spicules, leaf-shaped gubernaculum with a pointed anterior end, and long female tail with a filiform terminus. The new species is close to N. pinicola, N. piniphili and N. wacheki, but may be distinguished by its long female tail and male gubernaculum shape. The partial SSU and D2/D3 LSU of N. crenatae sp. n. were sequenced and compared with those of other sequenced nematodes, revealing that SSU was closest to those of other diplogastrid species, but that D2/D3 LSU was close to Anisakis spp. Neodiplogaster crenatae sp. n. propagated on a fungal lawn of B. cinerea and ambrosia fungi associating with its carrier beetles, but the nematode did not propagate on bacteria. The main food resource of Neodiplogaster spp. is hypothesised to be fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teratorhabditis synpapillata, originally described from cow dung in Bali, was isolated from the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, in Japan. Dauer juveniles were isolated from beneath the elytra of five specimens of R. ferrugineus that had emerged from a dead Canary Island date palm, Phoenix canariensis, in Kagoshima, Japan. The dauer juveniles were cultured on a NGM agar plate and the adult nematodes observed and measured with the aid of light microscopy. The full length of the ribosomal small subunit (SSU) and D2/D3 expansion segment of the ribosomal large subunit (LSU) were sequenced for molecular identification. Based upon morphology, molecular profile and a hybridisation test, the nematode was confirmed as T. synpapillata. A comparison of morphology and morphometrics suggests that the only other nematode reported from R. ferrugineus (= 'Pelodera rhynchophori') is also conspecific with T. synpapillata. A phylogenetic analysis using SSU and LSU rRNA gene sequences fully resolves the relationships of four Teratorhabditis and six outgroup species and demonstrates a sister group relationship of T. synpapillata and T. palmarum, another associate of palm weevils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bursaphelenchus clavicauda n. sp. is described and figured. The new species was isolated from Cryphalus sp., a species of bark beetle emerging from a dead log of Castanopsis cuspidata, and reared on Botrytis cinerea. Type specimens were collected from a 2- and 4-week-old culture on Botrytis cinerea. The new species has a body length of ca 665 μm (male) and 770 μm (female), medium (ca 30-50 for males and ca 30-45 for females) a values, b values of ca 9-13 (male) and 10-13 (female), c values of ca 20-28 (male) and 20-27 (female), c′ values of ca 2 (male) and ca 3-5 (female), ca 9-13 μm long stylet, three lines in the lateral field, relatively small (ca 14 μm) and strongly arcuate spicule with recurved and pointed condylus, seven (1 + 2 + 2 + 2) male caudal papillae and club-like female tail with rounded terminus and with or without various shapes of mucro. The new species is close to B. eremus, B. uncispicularis, B. yongensis and several other species possessing a large, recurved and pointed spicular condylus and is distinguished from these species mainly by male spicule, male caudal papillae and female tail morphologies, number of lateral lines and several morphometric values of females and males. Cultured nematodes were used for sequencing the partial (ca 1.6 kbps) small subunit, ITS regions and large subunit of ribosomal DNA for comparisons with those deposited at GenBank. The DNA sequences of the B. clavicauda n. sp. were close to those of B. eggersi, B. eremus, B. tusciae and B. yongensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]