Description of Ruehmaphelenchus taedae n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) found in Loblolly pine logs from the USA

Ruehmaphelenchus taedae n. sp., isolated from Loblolly pine logs (Pinus taedae L.) from the USA, is described and figured. It is characterised by a relatively slim body (a = 42 and 43 for males and females, respectively), three lines in the lateral field, male spicules relatively small (12-18 mu m) with high and dorsally bent condylus and weakly developed rostrum, bursal flap absent, short tail possessing a long terminal spike ending in a bluntly rounded tip and 8.7-13.3 mu m long, vulva positioned at ca 83% of body length, vulval flap absent, vulval lips slightly protruding, post-vulval uterine branch extending for less than half of vulva to anus distance, and female tail conoid, ca 3-4 anal body diam. long, with 13.7-18.5 mu m terminal projection. The new species can be separated from all other species of the genus by the male tail possessing a long terminal spike and the more anterior excretory pore. Detailed phylogenetic analysis based on 28S D2-D3 region sequences confirmed the status of this nematode as a new species.