Description of a new and a known insect-associated species of the genus Halicephalobus Timm, 1956 (Panagrolaimidae: Rhabditida) along with intrageneric relationship

ABSTRACT

A new species, Halicephalobus termitis sp. nov., and a known species, H. similigaster (Andrássy, 1952) Andrássy, 1974, are described and illustrated. Halicephalobus termitis sp. nov. was isolated from the head of termites (Rhinotermes lucifugus Rossi, 1792). Out of four populations of H. similigaster, two of them were isolated from the head of termites belonging to Odontotermes sp. and Rhinotermes lucifugus, while the remaining two populations were extracted from rotten wood and rotten bark. Halicephalobus termitis sp. nov. is characterised by a = 10.6–13.2; c’ = 2.6–3.2; lateral field with two ridges; lip region with sclerotised cephalic plate; lips small, arranged around hexagonal oral aperture; and dorsal wall of metastegostom conically projected into stomal lumen without discernible tooth. The relationship between congeners is discussed and an identification key is provided.

KEYWORDS:

• description
• Halicephalobus
• nematode
• insect
• relationship
• SEM
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India, for providing financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India.