Description of Hemicaloosia graminis n. sp. (Nematoda: Caloosiidae) Associated with Turfgrasses in North and South Carolina, USA.

A new nematode species was discovered during a diversity survey of plant-parasitic nematodes on turfgrass conducted in North and South Carolina in 2010 and 2011. It is described herein as Hemicaloosia graminis n. sp. and is characterized by two annuli in the lip region, one lateral line, body 610.0-805.0 μm long, stylet 65.0-74.6 μm long, vulva at 84.1% -85.8% of the body , 254-283 annuli, vulva at the 38-53(rd) annulus from tail terminus, 12-14 annuli between vulva and anus, tail elongate-pointed, 67.5-84.8 μm long in females and spicule straight, 31.0 μm long, caudal alae well developed, two lateral lines in males. The newly described species is morphologically closest to H. paradoxa, but has a longer stylet (65.0-74.6 vs 61.0-65.0 μm) and a higher V-value (84.1-85.8 vs 78.1-84.0%), less RV (38-53 vs 50-56), higher RVan (12-14 vs 10) in females, and a shorter tail (30.1 vs 36.7 μm) and more anteriorly located excretory pore (105.9 vs 140.0 μm) in the male. It was easily differentiated from other species based on near-full-length small subunit rRNA gene (SSU) and ITS1 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis from SSU supports placement in a monophyletic clade with the genus Caloosia. An identification key and a table of distinguishing characteristics are presented for all seven species of Hemicaloosia.