1. Hexamermis popilliae n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Italy
- Author
-
Giuseppino Sabbatini Peverieri, George Poinar, Agostino Strangi, Giovanni Bosio, Francesco Paoli, Stefano Sacchi, Pio Federico Roversi, Giuseppe Mazza, Leonardo Marianelli, Francesco Binazzi, E. Giacometto, Giulia Torrini, Davide Venanzio, and Claudia Benvenuti
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Male ,Nematoda ,Biological pest control ,01 natural sciences ,Japonica ,03 medical and health sciences ,Mermithidae ,Species Specificity ,Botany ,Popillia ,Animals ,Scarabaeidae ,biology ,Japanese beetle ,biology.organism_classification ,Coleoptera ,010602 entomology ,030104 developmental biology ,Nematode ,Italy ,Animal ecology ,Parasitology ,Female ,Introduced Species - Abstract
A new species of mermithid nematode, Hexamermis popilliae n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) is described from the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica Newman in Italy, an area of new introduction for this invasive pest. The combination of the following characters separates H. popilliae from other members of the genus Hexamermis Steiner, 1924: adult head obtuse; amphidial pouches slightly posterior to lateral head papillae in female but adjacent to lateral head papillae in males; amphidial openings large, well developed; amphidial pouches elliptical in females and oblong in males; cuticular vulvar cone well developed, vulvar lips greatly reduced or lacking, vagina curved at tip where meeting uteri, without reverse bend (not S-shaped), spicules slightly curved, with a slight bend in the basal portion, approximately equal to body width at cloaca. This is the first record of a species of Hexamermis parasitizing the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica. The only previous mention of mermithid nematodes from P. japonica was an undescribed species of Psammomermis in North America. Hexamermis popilliae will be evaluated as a potential biological control agent in an integrated control program of the Japanese beetle in Italy.
- Published
- 2017