Sphaerulariidae

Family Sphaerulariidae

Revised 02/02/26

Classification:

Phylum Nematoda

Class Chromadorea

Subclass Chromadoria

Order Rhabditida

SuborderTylenchina or Hexatylina

Superfamily Iotonchoidea

Sphaerulariidae Lubbock, 1861

Mainly parasites of insects, sometimes with a free-living generation.
Entomoparasitic female everts uterus through the vullva into the haemocoel of host insect. The uterus hypertrophies into a sausage-shaped sac, 2-20 mm long and 1.2-1.5 mm wide which produces thousands of eggs. The uterine sac may take over the normal parasitic functions of the adult, probably absorbing nutrients directly from the host haemocoel.
Bumblebees are parasitized by mated female nematodes in their underground overwintering sites.

Go To Dictionary of Terminology

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

References

Chizhov, V.N. (2004): [Entomogenous nematodes of the suborder Hexatylina (Nematoda: Tylenchida).] − In: Sonin, M. D. (ed.): [Parasitic nematodes of plants and insects.] Nauka, Moscow, Russia: 277â€“293

Return to Sphaerulariidae Menu

Return to Order Rhabditida Menu

Want more information about nematodes? Go to Nemaplex Main Menu.