Rev 10/30/2019
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Fortuner and Maggenti (1991) compared California populations of Hirschmanniella belli i) to paratypes of this species, ii) to topotypes of H. oryzae, and iii) to other populations of the same genus from other parts of the world. Seven characters were selected that were not affected by artifacts, and that differentiated all California specimens (including paratypes of H. belli) from topotypes of H. oryzae. The discriminant functions defined by this analysis can be used for practical identification of Hirschmanniella from California.
Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:
Type hosts and location are grasses and sedges in the Santa Ana River bed in southern California.
Zheng surveyed 100 rice fields around Northern California and concluded all populations were H. belli. Much lower populations of H. belli were observed in California than with H. oryzae in China.
Nematode is commonly associated with sedges between crops, especially in wet ditches, and with common cattail (Typha latifolia) along streams and ditches.
D-rated pest in California Nematode Pest Rating System.
Migratory endoparasite of roots. Juveniles and adults enter behind the root tip and move in air channels; can also migrate into older roots.
Ecophysiological Parameters:
Males are infrequently found.
No known examples of attempts to manage H. belli. Populations probably regulated by seasonal dry periods.
Host Plant Resistance, Non-hosts and Crop Rotation alternatives:
Fortuner, R; Maggenti, A R. 1991. A statistical approach to the objective differentiation of Hirschmanniella oryzae from Hirschmanniella belli (Nemata: Pratylenchidae). Revue de Nematologie, 14:165-180