Bursaphelenchus firmae n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), isolated from Monochamus grandis Waterhouse that emerged from dead firs, Abies firma Sieb. et Zucc.

Abstract

Bursaphelenchus firmae n. sp. is described. This new species was isolated during a field survey of longhorn beetle-associated nematodes. The fourth-stage dispersal (dauer) juveniles of the new species were recovered from dissected bodies (tracheal system) of Monochamus grandis, which emerged from dead logs of Japanese fir, Abies firma, collected from Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan. The new species is mid-sized for the genus, with females 603-828 μm and males 530-698 μm long. Four lateral lines occur on the body surface and seven genital papillae are found in males (P1 ventral single papilla and P2-P4 pairs). A long and arcuate spicule forms a trapezium in lateral view and a rather large, sub-squared, bursal flap and a vulva with conspicuous vulval flap are present. The female tail is smoothly tapered and possesses a conspicuous and blunt mucro. Based upon its diagnostic morphological characters, the new species belongs to the B. xylophilus group of the genus, and is closely related to B. fraudulentus, B. mucronatus, B. doui, B. macromucronatus and B. populi. It is distinguished from these five species by the morphology of the male bursal flap and the female mucro and several morphometric values. Molecular phylogenetic analyses inferred from D2/D3 LSU suggest that the new species is close to B. mucronatus and B. xylophilus, i.e., these three species form a well supported monophyletic clade within the genus. Although the new species has a weak pathogenicity to pine trees, it does not seem to be a severe risk to native pine forests.