A family of insect-parasitic nematodes, especially parasites of beetles and flies;
The most obvious effect of parasitism of bark beetles by Parasitylenchus spp is the reduction in egg production, presumably by damage to the female gonad. There does not appear to be similar damage to the male gonad (Massey, 1974).
Females of the face fly, Musca autunmalis visited both dung and cattle when infected, or lighly infected with Heterotylenchus autumnalis, however, they were found mainly in dung when heavily infected and wete less likely to visit cattle (Kaya et al., 1979).
Kaya, H.K., Moon, R.D., Witt, P.L. 1979. Influence of the nematode Heterotylenchus autumnalis on the behavior of the face fly Musca autumnalis. Environmental Entomology 8:537-540.
Massey, C.L. 1974. Biology and taxonomu of nematode parasites and associates of bark beetles in the United States. Agricultural handbook 446, US Forest Service.
Siddiqi, M. R. 2000. Tylenchida: Parasites of plants and insects, 2nd ed. Wallingford: CABI Publishing.
Yeates, G.W., T. Bongers, R.G.M. de Goede, D.W.Freckman and S.S. Georgieva. 1993. Feeding habits in soil nematode families - an outline for ecologists. Journal of Nematology 25:315-331.