Species Identification of European Cereal and Grass Cyst Nematodes by Larval Characters1

Abstract

Second‐stage juveniles of heteroderid species often present more reliable diagnostic characters than cysts. For identification of European cereal and grass cyst nematodes, size and position of the phasmids, swelling of the cuticle behind the lip region, expression of the lateral fields, shape and size of the stylet knobs and measurements of, for example, the tail and the hyaline tail portion are useful. A key presented, based on larval characters, allows identification of seven European cereal and grass cyst nematode species and their distinction from other European heteroderids not reproducing on Gramineae. Species identification is often difficult in the Heterodera avenae/H. mani complex and evidence exists that additional species are present within this group.