<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<italic>Rhabditis (Rhabditella) axei</italic> is a free-living, pseudoparasitic, necromenic, and parasitic nematode, depending on the host. This species feeds mainly on bacteria present in decaying organic matter, soil, and other substrates; however, in its parasitic form, it can colonize some species of snails. Moreover, the presence of <italic>R. axei</italic> has also been detected in birds and mammals, including humans.
In 2021–2023, during monitoring of the palm borer <italic>Paysandisia archon</italic> in Central Italy, <italic>R. axei</italic> emerged from dead larvae of this alien invasive moth and was extracted from palm fibres of <italic>Trachycarpus fortunei</italic> in three independent sites. The nematode was identified by morphological and morphometric analyses. Molecular analyses using SSU and LSU gene fragments were used to confirm the identification and to perform Bayesian reconstruction of the phylogeny. Each sampling site showed a unique haplotype.
Concerning the pathogenicity of this nematode against insects, the test performed on <italic>Galleria mellonella</italic> larvae did not show any entomopathogenic effect. This is the first time that <italic>R. axei</italic> was found associated with <italic>P. archon,</italic> and this recurrent association was discussed.
</abstract>

Rhabditis (Rhabditella) axei is a free-living, pseudoparasitic, necromenic, and parasitic nematode, depending on the host. This species feeds mainly on bacteria present in decaying organic matter, soil, and other substrates; however, in its parasitic form, it can colonize some species of snails. Moreover, the presence of R. axei has also been detected in birds and mammals, including humans.
In 2021–2023, during monitoring of the palm borer Paysandisia archon in Central Italy, R. axei emerged from dead larvae of this alien invasive moth and was extracted from palm fibres of Trachycarpus fortunei in three independent sites. The nematode was identified by morphological and morphometric analyses. Molecular analyses using SSU and LSU gene fragments were used to confirm the identification and to perform Bayesian reconstruction of the phylogeny. Each sampling site showed a unique haplotype.
Concerning the pathogenicity of this nematode against insects, the test performed on Galleria mellonella larvae did not show any entomopathogenic effect. This is the first time that R. axei was found associated with P. archon, and this recurrent association was discussed.

First report of <italic>Rhabditis</italic> (<italic>Rhabditella</italic>) <italic>axei</italic> with the invasive palm borer <italic>Paysandisia archon</italic>

Journal of Nematology

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

First report of  ()  with the invasive palm borer 

Rhabditis (Rhabditella) axei is a free-living, pseudoparasitic, necromenic, and parasitic nematode, depending on the host. This species feeds mainly on...

First report of Rhabditis (Rhabditella) axei with the invasive palm borer Paysandisia archon

Article Category: Research Note

Data publikacji: 14 mar 2024

Zakres stron: -

Otrzymano: 27 sie 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2024-0005

Słowa kluczowe
Alien invasive species, Italy, Lepidoptera, nematode-insect interaction, Rhabditidae

© 2024 Chiara Sciandra et al., published by Sciendo

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

First report of Rhabditis (Rhabditella) axei with the invasive palm borer Paysandisia archon

Article Category: Research Note

Data publikacji: 14 mar 2024

Zakres stron: -

Otrzymano: 27 sie 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2024-0005

Słowa kluczoweAlien invasive species, Italy, Lepidoptera, nematode-insect interaction, Rhabditidae

© 2024 Chiara Sciandra et al., published by Sciendo

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

Słowa kluczowe
Alien invasive species, Italy, Lepidoptera, nematode-insect interaction, Rhabditidae