First Record of Mermithidae (Enoplea: Mermithida) Parasitizing Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Central Italy
Philaenus spumarius specimens were found naturally parasitized by Mermithidae nematodes in Central Italy. Nematodes infected all spittlebug instars, showing a highly variable parasitization rate according to sampling locations. Molecular analysis highlighted the presence of two distinct species that...
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2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nematology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2025-0019 |
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| author | Nencioni Anita Bigiotti Gaia Gargani Elisabetta Sacchetti Patrizia Strangi Agostino Cutino Ilaria |
| author_facet | Nencioni Anita Bigiotti Gaia Gargani Elisabetta Sacchetti Patrizia Strangi Agostino Cutino Ilaria |
| author_sort | Nencioni Anita |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Philaenus spumarius specimens were found naturally parasitized by Mermithidae nematodes in Central Italy. Nematodes infected all spittlebug instars, showing a highly variable parasitization rate according to sampling locations. Molecular analysis highlighted the presence of two distinct species that are apparently not cohabitant in the same site. However, complete taxonomic identification will occur when adult nematodes are obtained. Further research is needed to identify these two putative nematode species and to understand their ecological requirements. Furthermore, new studies aimed to elucidate the relationship between P. spumarius and Mermithidae nematodes, as well as the role of these parasites in regulating spittlebug populations, can be useful in identifying potential natural enemies for pest control. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Mermithidae infecting P. spumarius in Europe. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d0f4ae4c3634409b30067f6c9b8b9c5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2640-396X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nematology |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d0f4ae4c3634409b30067f6c9b8b9c52025-08-20T03:11:14ZengSciendoJournal of Nematology2640-396X2025-06-015711810.2478/jofnem-2025-0019First Record of Mermithidae (Enoplea: Mermithida) Parasitizing Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Central ItalyNencioni Anita0Bigiotti Gaia1Gargani Elisabetta2Sacchetti Patrizia3Strangi Agostino4Cutino Ilaria5Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125Florence, Italy.Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125Florence, Italy.Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125Florence, Italy.Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144Florence, Italy.Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125Florence, Italy.Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125Florence, Italy.Philaenus spumarius specimens were found naturally parasitized by Mermithidae nematodes in Central Italy. Nematodes infected all spittlebug instars, showing a highly variable parasitization rate according to sampling locations. Molecular analysis highlighted the presence of two distinct species that are apparently not cohabitant in the same site. However, complete taxonomic identification will occur when adult nematodes are obtained. Further research is needed to identify these two putative nematode species and to understand their ecological requirements. Furthermore, new studies aimed to elucidate the relationship between P. spumarius and Mermithidae nematodes, as well as the role of these parasites in regulating spittlebug populations, can be useful in identifying potential natural enemies for pest control. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Mermithidae infecting P. spumarius in Europe.https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2025-0019aphrophoridaenatural enemyphilaenus spumariusspittlebugterrestrial mermithidaevectorxylella fastidiosa |
| spellingShingle | Nencioni Anita Bigiotti Gaia Gargani Elisabetta Sacchetti Patrizia Strangi Agostino Cutino Ilaria First Record of Mermithidae (Enoplea: Mermithida) Parasitizing Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Central Italy Journal of Nematology aphrophoridae natural enemy philaenus spumarius spittlebug terrestrial mermithidae vector xylella fastidiosa |
| title | First Record of Mermithidae (Enoplea: Mermithida) Parasitizing Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Central Italy |
| title_full | First Record of Mermithidae (Enoplea: Mermithida) Parasitizing Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Central Italy |
| title_fullStr | First Record of Mermithidae (Enoplea: Mermithida) Parasitizing Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Central Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Record of Mermithidae (Enoplea: Mermithida) Parasitizing Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Central Italy |
| title_short | First Record of Mermithidae (Enoplea: Mermithida) Parasitizing Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Central Italy |
| title_sort | first record of mermithidae enoplea mermithida parasitizing philaenus spumarius hemiptera aphrophoridae in central italy |
| topic | aphrophoridae natural enemy philaenus spumarius spittlebug terrestrial mermithidae vector xylella fastidiosa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2025-0019 |
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