Seinura caverna

Contents

Rev 11-01-2021
  Classification    
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Seinura Menu Distribution Ecosystem Functions and Services
Feeding Management
Return to Aphelenchoididae Menu Biology and Ecology References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
       Tylenchida
        Aphelenchina
         Aphelenchoidea
          Aphelenchoididae

           Seinura caverna Kanzaki, Ekino & Masuya. 2019.

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Morphology and Anatomy:


 

  
   
   

Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:

 

  
    
   

 

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Distribution:

Originally isolated from bat guano in a calcareous cave in Japan.

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Feeding:

Predatory on other nematodes (Kanzaki, et al., 2019).

Use stylet to penetrate prey and withdraw body contents.

 

The feeding behaviour of S. caverna is very similar to that of S. tenuicaudata reported by Hechler (1963).

During feeding, the lip region of S. caverna is pushed perpendicularly onto the body surface of the prey and the anterior of the body curves ventrally as the stylet penetrates the body of the prey.

Feeding is accomplished by strong,  fast pumping of the metacorpus  during which the valve of the metacorpus opens and closes quickly for about 30 seconds. Then secretions from the duct of the esophageal glands, which opens into the anterior of the metacorpus, are injected into the prey. The metacorpal valve is closed during pulsation of the metacorpus when the glandular secretions are injected into the prey.  The secretions are presumed to be a mixture of toxin and digestive enzyme. (Kanzaki, et al., 2019).

 
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Biology and Ecology:
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Life Cycle:

 

Ecophysiological Parameters:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters
 
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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

Predatory on other nematodes.

Kanzaki et al (2019) 20 individuals of 101 species of potential prey nematodes to 10 hermaphrodite individuals of S. caverna and observed feeding over a 48 hour period (Resulta adapted from Kanaki et al and tabulated below).

Prey species Prey Survival % (48 hours) Prey Characteristics
Aphelenchus avenae 8.3% Soil-dwelling fungal feeder
Bursaphelenchus conicaudatus 0% Wood-inhabiting fungal feeder associated with Psacothea hilaris (Cerambycidae)
Bursaphelenchus niphades 10% Wood-inhabiting fungal feeder associated with Niphades variegatus (Curculionidae)
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus 0% Wood-inhabiting fungal feeder associated with Monochamus spp. (Cerambycidae)
Pseudaphelenchus sui 3.3% Soil-dwelling fungal feeder associated with termites (Isoptera)
Deladenus sp. (males) 1.6% Wood-inhabiting fungal feeder/insect parasite associated with Urocerus antennatus (Siricidae)
Deladenus sp. (females) 0% Wood-inhabiting fungal feeder/insect parasite associated with Urocerus antennatus (Siricidae)
Caenorhabditis elegans (hermaphrodites) 5% Soil-dwelling bacteria feeder sometimes associated with soil arthropods and gastropod molluscs
Pristionchus pacificus (predatory eurystomatous form hermaphrodites) 1.6% Soil-dwelling omnivore associated with soil arthropods (mostly Scarabaeoidea)
Diplogasteroides asiaticus 1.6% Wood-inhabiting bacteria feeder associated with Monochamus alternatus (Cerambycidae)
Poikilolaimus oxycercus 88.3% Soil-dwelling bacteria feeder associated with termites (Isoptera)
 

      Conclusion:  Seinura caverna is a very effective predator of many nematode species.

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Management:

 

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References:

Hechler, H.C. 1963. Description, developmental biology and feeding habits of Seinura tenuicaudata (de Man) J.B. Goodey, 1960 (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), a nematode predator. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 30:182-195.

Hechler, H.C. and Taylor, D.P. 1965. Taxonomy of the genus Seinura (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), with descriptions of S. celeris n.sp. and S. steineri n.sp. Proc. Helminthological Society of Washington 32: 205-219.

Kanzaki, N., T. Ekino and H. Masuya. 2019. Seinura caverna n. sp. (Tylenchomorpha: Aphelenchoididae), an androdioecious species isolated from bat guano in a calcareous cave. Nematology 21:207-225.

 

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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: January 11, 2021