First report of a mermithid nematode infecting the invasive Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in the United States.
Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) has become a pest of soybean, Glycine max (L.), in the United States. While several natural enemies of M. cribraria have been reported, our study is the first to report nematodes beneath the pleural membranes in the abdominal cavities of adults. Morphological and molecular analyses suggest this nematode belongs to the family Mermithidae. This first report of a nematode infection in M. cribraria adds to the current inventory of enemies attacking this insect. Our observations provide a basis for future research to examine the impact of nematodes on M. cribraria mortality and to investigate their capacity to reduce populations.
Clemson University, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Edisto Research and Education Center, 64 Research Rd., Blackville, SC 29817, United States. Electronic address: sstubbi@clemson.edu.
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Stubbins
Clemson University, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Plant Nematology Laboratory, Clemson, SC 29634, United States.
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Agudelo
Clemson University, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Pee Dee Research and Education Center, 2200 Pocket Rd., Florence, SC 29506, United States.
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Reay-Jones
Clemson University, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Edisto Research and Education Center, 64 Research Rd., Blackville, SC 29817, United States.
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Greene
D000818:Animals; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D008632:Mermithoidea; D014481:United States
Invasive species; Kudzu bug; Mermithidae; Molecular