Description of Ruehmaphelenchus digitulus sp n. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) found in packaging wood from Taiwan

Ruehmaphelenchus digitulus sp. n., isolated from coniferous packaging wood from Taiwan, is described and figured. The new species is characterised by a relatively stout body with a = 28.0 (23.7-31.3) and 27.0 (22.9-32.7) for male and female, respectively, three lines in the lateral field, spicules relatively small (chord = 17.0-19.2 mu m; arc = 13.8-16.6 mu m) with weakly developed condylus and rostrum, bursa absent, vulva positioned at ca 80% of body length, vulva flap absent, vulval lips slightly protruding, post-uterine branch extending slightly over half of vulva to anus distance, and tail conoid, ca 2-3 anal body diam. long, with terminal process 7-10 mu m long. The new species is the fourth known for the genus. It can be distinguished from R. martinii, R. asiaticus and R. thailandae mainly by the different shape and size of the spicules and the different shape and length of the female tail terminus. The separate species status is also supported by ITS-RFLP pattern and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on partial SSU ITS1/2 and partial LSU sequences.