Phasmarhabditis

  

Contents

  

Rev 12/17/2024

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Phasmarhabditis Menu Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Rhabditidae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Chromadorea

  Rhabditia

   Rhabditida

      Rhabditoidea

        Rhabditidae

 

        Phasmarhabditis Andrassy, 1976

    Also considered a synonym of Pellioditis (see Sudhaus, 2023)

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Morphology and Anatomy:

 

 

 


Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:
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Distribution:

 

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Feeding:

 Most species are soil-dwelling, facultative, opportunistic parasites of terrestrial gastropod molluscs;, parasites of snails and slugs. The parasite infects slugs in the area beneath the mantle surrounding the shell, causing a disease with characteristic symptoms, particularly swelling of the mantle. Infection leads to death of the slug, usually between seven and 21 days afterwards. The nematode then spreads and multiplies in the cadaver.  Study of the genus has accelerated through the search for biological control methods for snails and slugs (Ivanova et al., 2020; Wilson et al., 1993; Wilson and Grewal, 2005).

A large number of gastropod taxa appear to be susceptible to these nematodes. For example,P. hermaphrodita is reported to parasitise members of 15 gastropod families  Generally, Phasmarhabditis nematodes are more often found in slugs than snails

 Surveys  in the USA and South Africa have shown a much higher infestation of invasive compared to native gastropod species by Phasmarhabditis spp. (Ivanova et al., 2020)

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Biology and Ecology:

Most of the biology of this genus is known from studies on P. hermaphrodita.

Most species (e.g. P. hermaphrodita) are parasites of snails and slugs

 

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Life Cycle:

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click 
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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

 

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Management:

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References:

Ivanova, E.S., Spiridonov, S.E. 2022. Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from tropical terrestrial gastropods in southern Vietnam. Nematology 24:225-239.

Ivanova, E.S., A.P. Geraskina and S. E. Spiridonov. 2020. Two new species of Phasmarhabditis Andrassy, 1976 (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) associated with land snails in Northwest Caucasus, Russian Federation: description and molecular affiliation. Nematology 22:179-197.

Pieterse, A., B. Rowson, L. Tiedt, A.P. Malan, S. Haukeland and J.L. Ross. 2021. Phasmarhabditis kenyaensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from the slug, Polytoxon robustum, in Kenya. Nematology 23:229-245.

Sudhaus, W. 2023. An update of the catalogue of paraphyletic ‘Rhabditidae’ (Nematoda) after eleven years. Soil Organisms 95: 95-116

 Wilson, M.J., D.M. Glen, S.K. George. 1993. The rhabditid nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita as a potential biological control agent for slugs. Biocontrol Science and Technology 3:503-511.

Wilson, M.J. and Grewal, P.S. 2005. Biology, production, and formulation of slug-parasitic nematodes . In: Grewal PS, Ehlers R-U, Shapiro-Ilan DI, editors. Nematodes as Biological Control Agents. CAB International, Wallingford, UK; 2005. p. 421-429.
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Copyright © 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: December 17, 2024.

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