We are pleased to announce a new article on Featured Creatures!

Take a sneak peek with this excerpt from the article: The common name sting nematode is generally applied to nematodes in the genus Belonolaimus, particularly Belonolaimus longicaudatus (Fig. 1), although it is also being applied to the closely related genera Morulaimus and Ibipora in Australia. Belonolaimus longicaudatus is among the most destructive plant-parasitic nematodes to a wide range of plants including turfgrasses, ornamentals, forages, vegetables, agronomic crops, and trees. Feeding by Belonolaimus longicaudatus causes damage to plant roots and limits the ability of roots to take up water and nutrients from the soil. This causes plants to become stunted, wilt, and with severe infestation, die. Florida is considered to be the point-of-origin for Belonolaimus longicaudatus and therefore this nematode exhibits a great deal of diversity in morphology, host preference, and genetics in our region. All indications are that Belonolaimus longicaudatus is paraphyletic, meaning that there are multiple species that are being grouped artificially into a single species.

Available at: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/nematode/sting_nematode.htm

Author: W.T. Crow, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida

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