I. T. de Ley

Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Nematoda: Rhabditidae), a potential biocontrol agent isolated for the first time from invasive slugs in North America.

Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is reported for the first time in North America from cadavers of the invasive slug species Deroceras reticulatum, D. laeve and Lehmannia valentiana collected from three different locations in California, USA. Four isolates were identified using combined morphology, morphometrics and molecular sequence data for complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2), D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit (LSU or 28S) and nearly complete small subunit (SSU or 18S) ribosomal DNA. Extremely low sequence variations in the COI gene of the mitochondria were observed among US isolates as well as between US isolates and the two UK sequences. The occurrence of P. hermaphrodita in North America has regulatory implications for potential biological control strategies against non-native gastropod species that are pests in ornamental and agricultural cultivation on this continent. The D2-D3 sequence of the LSU rDNA is new for the species.

Nematodes from the Gulf of California. Part 1. The genera Ceramonema Cobb, 1920, Pselionema Cobb in Cobb, 1933 and Pterygonema Gerlach, 1954 (Nematoda: Ceramonematidae)

The morphology and morphometry of nematodes of six species of the family Ceramonematidae is described using light and scanning electron microscopy. In this paper, we describe two new species and redescribe two known species of Ceramonema and one new species each of Pselionema and Pterygonema. Ceramonema altogolfi sp. n. is characterised by the 0.8-1.3 mm long body, 187-247 body annules, weakly developed zygapophyses, presence of intracuticular vacuoles, sexual dimorphism in amphid shape, presence of vaginal sclerotisation, complex gubernaculum and relatively uniform anal and cloacal annules, whilst C. inguinispina sp. n. has a 0.8-1.1 mm long body, 135-191 body annules, weakly developed zygapophyses, presence of intracuticular vacuoles, sexual dimorphism in amphid shape, absence of vaginal sclerotisation, thorn-shaped precloacal projection, plate-like gubernaculum and double cloacal annule. Pselionema psednum sp. n. is distinguished by 1.4-1.7 mm long body, 251-292 body annules, weakly developed zygapophyses, absence of intracuticular vacuoles, sexual dimorphism in amphid shape and Pterygonema mexicanum sp. n. is characterised by having amphids lacking a central thorn-like projection and pharynx with a distinct posterior glandular bulb. Populations of Ceramonema rectum and Ceramonema cf. yunfengi are also described. The male cloacal region of the species examined appears to be a rich potential source of taxonomic characters that have as yet received insufficient attention for this family.

Nematodes from the gulf of California. Part 2. Ceramonema nasobema sp. n. (Nematoda: Ceramonematidae)

An unusual new ceramonematid, Ceramonema nasobema sp. n., is described using light and scanning electron microscopy. It is particularly characterised by the presence of a perioral tube projecting 5.5-7.0 ?m anterior to the lips, moderately long body (0.86-1.09 mm), relatively small number of body annules (121-134), weakly developed zygapophyses, absence of intracuticular vacuoles, pronounced sexual dimorphism in amphid shape with the male ventral amphidial branch extending as far posterior as the 55-80th annule (no extension in females), barrel-shaped stoma, sigmoid and anteriorly inclined vagina without sclerotisations, gubernaculum with dorsal apophyses and relatively uniform cloacal annules. The new species differs from all other known species of Ceramonema especially by the shape of the amphid in males, the strongly projecting perioral tube and the inclined, sigmoid, vagina. Additional data on morphology of Ceramonema algoensis (from Natal Bay, South Africa) are also provided as this species has the most prominent perioral tube among previously described members of the genus.