<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>An aberrant specimen of <italic>Rhynchophorus ferrugineus</italic> (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) also known as red palm weevil (RPW), the most economically important insect pest of palms in the world, was found among a batch of conspecifics reared for research purposes. A morphological analysis of this weevil revealed the presence of nematodes associated with a structured cuticle defect of the thorax. These nematodes were not able to be cultured, but were characterized by molecular analysis using 28S and 18S ribosomal DNA and shown to belong to the family Panagrolaimidae (Rhabditida), within a clade of <italic>Panagrellus</italic>. While most nematodes in the insect were juveniles, a single male adult was partially characterized by light microscopy. Morphometrics showed similarities to a species described from Germany. Excluding the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), only five other genera of entomophilic or saprophytic rhabditid nematodes are associated with this weevil. This is the first report of panagrolaimid nematodes associated with this invasive pest. Possible mechanisms of nematode-insect association are discussed.</p></abstract>

An aberrant specimen of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) also known as red palm weevil (RPW), the most economically important insect pest of palms in the world, was found among a batch of conspecifics reared for research purposes. A morphological analysis of this weevil revealed the presence of nematodes associated with a structured cuticle defect of the thorax. These nematodes were not able to be cultured, but were characterized by molecular analysis using 28S and 18S ribosomal DNA and shown to belong to the family Panagrolaimidae (Rhabditida), within a clade of Panagrellus. While most nematodes in the insect were juveniles, a single male adult was partially characterized by light microscopy. Morphometrics showed similarities to a species described from Germany. Excluding the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), only five other genera of entomophilic or saprophytic rhabditid nematodes are associated with this weevil. This is the first report of panagrolaimid nematodes associated with this invasive pest. Possible mechanisms of nematode-insect association are discussed.

Occurrence of <italic>Panagrellus</italic> (Rhabditida: Panagrolaimidae) Nematodes in a Morphologically Aberrant Adult Specimen of <italic>Rhynchophorus ferrugineus</italic> (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

Agrobiology and Pedology Research Centre (CRA-ABP)

Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

Journal of Nematology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Occurrence of  (Rhabditida: Panagrolaimidae) Nematodes in a Morphologically Aberrant Adult Specimen of  (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

An aberrant specimen of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) also known as red palm weevil (RPW), the most economically important insect pest...

Occurrence of Panagrellus (Rhabditida: Panagrolaimidae) Nematodes in a Morphologically Aberrant Adult Specimen of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

Published Online: Jul 21, 2017

Page range: 14 - 19

Received: Jun 15, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2017-001

Keywords
insect thorax defect, invasive species, nematode phoresy, physiological ecology, saprophagous nematode, sour paste nematode

© 2016 Manuela Camerota et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Occurrence of Panagrellus (Rhabditida: Panagrolaimidae) Nematodes in a Morphologically Aberrant Adult Specimen of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

Published Online: Jul 21, 2017

Page range: 14 - 19

Received: Jun 15, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2017-001

Keywordsinsect thorax defect, invasive species, nematode phoresy, physiological ecology, saprophagous nematode, sour paste nematode

© 2016 Manuela Camerota et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
insect thorax defect, invasive species, nematode phoresy, physiological ecology, saprophagous nematode, sour paste nematode