On Anguillulina mahogani (Cobb, 1920)

Abstract

The only account we have of this species of nematode, which is apparently parasitic in the bark of mahogany trees in Barbados, British West Indies, is that given by Cobb (1920). The material forming the basis of his investigations consisted of specimens preserved in formalin which had been sent to him from the Department of Agriculture, Barbados. His description of the adult worms, while being very detailed in certain particulars, gives little information in regard to other anatomical features. In addition, the drawings illustrating his paper show only two views of the head region and the male tail in ventral and lateral aspect. During the past twelve months the writer has had an opportunity of making some observations on this species. A piece of diseased mahogany bark was received in April, 1936 from the Director of the Imperial Mycological Institute, Kew, to whom it had been sent from the Department of Agriculture, Barbados. The bark and scrapings from it were in a preserving fluid of unknown composition and in the sediment at the bottom of the jar numbers of adult worms of both sexes were present. Several of these were picked out, washed in water and transferred to weak glycerine. The capsule containing them was set aside for the glycerine to become concentrated and the worms were finally mounted in this medium.