Morphological and molecular characterization of Travassosinema viatorum n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Travassosinematidae) from the invasive millipede Chamberlinius hualienensis Wang, 1956 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae) in Okinawa, Japan.

Travassosinema viatorum n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Travassosinematidae) is described from the invasive millipede Chamberlinius hualienensis Wang, 1956 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae) in Okinawa, Japan. Females of T. viatorum n. sp. resemble T. claudiae Morffe & Hasegawa, 2017; T. thyropygi Hunt, 1996 and T. travassosi Rao, 1958 by lacking both lateral alae and a contraction posterior to the vulva. The body length of T. viatorum n. sp. is shorter than the aforementioned species. It differs from T. claudiae and T. thyropygi by its comparatively longer oesophagus, more posterior vulva, lack of cuticular ribs in the alae of the umbraculum and in the position of the nerve ring and excretory pore. Travassosinema viatorum n. sp. can be differentiated from T. travassosi by the extension of the cephalic umbraculum and the smaller eggs. The phylogeny of T. viatorum n. sp. is inferred by the D2-D3 domains of the 28S rDNA. The new species is located in a monophyletic clade with other sequences of Travassosinema from millipedes. The comparison of the phylogenies of Travassosinema and their hosts points to host switching rather than coevolution as a mechanism to explain the host-nematode relationships. This constitutes the second species of the genus Travassosinema described from the Japanese archipelago and the first oxyuridomorph nematodes found in C. hualienensis.

Correction of the homonymy of the nematode genus Singhiella Rao, 1958 (Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatoidea: Travasossinematidae) parasite from mole crickets (Insecta: Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae).

N/A.

Morphological and molecular characterization of two species of nematodes (Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatoidea: Protrelloididae, Thelastomatidae) parasitic in the cockroach Blaberus discoidalis Serville (Blattaria: Blaberidae) from Cuba.

Protrelleta floridana Chitwood, 1932 and Cranifera cranifera (Chitwood, 1932) (Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatoidea: Protrelloididae, Thelastomatidae) are recorded for the first time in Cuba. These nematodes were found to parasitize the cockroach Blaberus discoidalis Serville (Blattaria: Blaberidae), constituting a new host record for them. Both species are redescribed with the aid of scanning electron microscopy and the arrangement of the copulatory papillae of the males of P. floridana is amended. The present specimens coincide in their morphology and most of the measurements with the type populations from USA and the records from Costa Rica, with only minor differences. The molecular phylogeny was inferred by mean of the D2-D3 domain of the 28S rDNA and the Cuban P. floridana and C. cranifera form monophyletic clades with sequences of both taxa from Costa Rica as well as a sequence of C. cranifera from Russia. In the case of C. cranifera its phylogeny and that of its blaberid hosts reveal coevolutionary relationships.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Buzionema lutgardae n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatidae) from the cockroach Byrsotria sp. (Blattaria: Blaberidae) in Cuba.

Buzionema lutgardae n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatidae) is described from the cockroach Byrsotria sp. (Blattaria: Blaberidae), endemic to Cuba. Females of B. lutgardae n. sp. are shorter than those of B. validum Kloss, 1966 (16002150 µm vs. 31313378 µm), but the oesophagus is comparatively longer (b = 2.963.77 vs. 4.654.87). The lateral alae of the new species extend from ca. the midpoint of the cylindrical part of the procorpus to the level of the anus in contrast to the base of the basal bulb to the level of the anus in B. validum. The males of B. lutgardae n. sp. are shorter than those of B. validum (780940 µm vs. 11771423 µm) and their lateral alae end at some distance before the cloaca instead the level of the cloaca in B. validum. The phylogeny of B. lutgardae n. sp. is inferred by the D2-D3 domains of the 28S rDNA. B. lutgardae n. sp. and B. validum form a monophyletic clade with strong nodal support, as sister-group of the genus Leidynema Schwenck in Travassos, 1929.

Correction of the synonymy of a species of Longior/ Travassos amp; Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) from a Cuban passalid beetle (Coleoptera: Passalidae).

García Coy (1994) described the hystrignathid nematode Longior alius García Coy, 1994 parasitizing the passalid beetle Antillanax pertyi (Kaup, 1869) from Guantánamo province, Eastern Cuba. Morffe García (2011) continued the studies on Cuban Longior and described L. longior Morffe García, 2011. Morffe et al. (2018) redescribed L. longior with the aid of SEM and molecular techniques. In their research the authors studied Longior individuals from the same host species and a locality close to the type locality of L. alius and compared their morphology, measurements and DNA markers with other material of L. longior. As a result of this analysis Morffe et al. (2018) concluded that L. alius and L. longior are conspecific and proposed L. alius as a synonym of L. longior.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Klossnema viguerasi n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) from a Cuban passalid beetle (Coleoptera: Passalidae), first record of the genus for Cuba.

Klossnema viguerasi n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) is described from the passalid beetle Antillanax pertyi (Kaup, 1869), endemic to Cuba. The females of K. viguerasi n. sp. are morphologically similar but slightly longer than K. repentina Cordeiro Artigas, 1983 (1.143 mm vs. 1.000 mm). Both species differ in that K. viguerasi n. sp. has a longer procorpus (139 µm vs. 110 µm), isthmus (39 µm vs. 24 µm), and tail length (28 µm vs. 21 µm). The distance from the vulva to the anterior end is also longer in the new species (0.748 mm vs. 0.650 mm). The males of K. viguerasi n. sp. are larger than K. repentina (0.980 mm vs. 0.800 mm), but their isthmus is shorter (38 µm vs. 48 µm). New features of the cephalic end of both sexes, and copulatory papillae pattern of the males were observed by SEM and the generic diagnosis is emended in order to include such features. The phylogeny of K. viguerasi n. sp. is inferred by the analysis of the D2-D3 domains of the 28S rDNA and the 18S rDNA. This constitutes the first record of the genus Klossnema for the Cuban archipelago and the West Indies.

Three new species of Longior Travassos Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: Thelastomatoidea: Hystrignathidae) parasites of passalid beetles (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Dominican Republic, Mexico and Colombia.

Three new species of the genus Longior Travassos Kloss, 1958 are described and illustrated, namely L. surieli n. sp. in Antillanax dominicanus (Doesburg, 1953) from the Dominican Republic, L. lamothei n. sp. in Passalus punctiger Le Peletier Serville, 1825 from Mexico and Colombia and L. zumpimito n. sp. in P. punctatostriatus Percheron, 1835 from Mexico. These constitute the first records of the genus Longior for the aforementioned countries, rising to nine species in the genus. The new species can be differentiated mainly by the length of their body, oesophagus and tail in both sexes, the extension of the lateral alae in the females and the morphology of the cephalic and posterior end in the males. The molecular phylogeny of the new taxa is inferred by the 28S and 18S rDNA and they form a monophyletic clade with other Longior species. The phylogeny of Longior and that of their passalid hosts reveal coevolutionary relationships. These patterns suggest that the phylogeny of Longior species is probably strongly influenced by the evolutionary trajectories of their passalid hosts.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Xyo pseudohystrix Travassos amp; Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) from Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger, 1800) (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from USA and discussion on its taxonomic status.

The females of Xyo pseudohystrix Travassos Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) are redescribed and illustrated with the aid of SEM. New features of the cephalic end, arrangement of the cervical spines and genital tract were observed. The taxonomic status of the species is discussed on the basis of discrepancies with the generic diagnosis of Xyo Cobb, 1898. Due to the lack of proper information on the genus the status of incertae sedis is proposed. The identity of the males was confirmed by molecular studies and the morphology of the specimens previously assigned by Christie (1932) as males of Hystrignathus rigidus Leidy, 1858 correspond to the current species. New locality records are given for the states of Georgia and Ohio, USA. The phylogenetic position of the species is inferred on the basis of the D2-D3 segment of the LSU rDNA and SSU rDNA.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Lepidonema magnum Morffe García, 2010 (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) from Passalus interstitialis Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Cuba and new locality records for the species.

Lepidonema magnum Morffe García, 2010 (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) is redescribed and illustrated with the aid of SEM. New features of the cephalic end and genital tract of the females were observed. New locality records are given. The phylogenetic position of the species is inferred on the basis of the D2-D3 segment of the 28S LSU rDNA and 18S SSU rDNA. L. magnum forms a monophyletic clade formed by other hystrignathids: Coynema poeyi (Coy, García Álvarez, 1993), two species of Longior Travassos Kloss, 1958 and two Hystrignathus Leidy, 1850.

A new species of Aoruroides Travassos amp; Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: xyuridomorpha: Thelastomatidae) parasite of the wood-burrowing cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica (Shiraki, 1906) (Blattodea: Blaberidae: Panesthiinae) from Japan with comments on the validity of the genus Aoruroides.

Aoruroides chubudaigaku n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatidae) is described from the wood-burrowing cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica (Shiraki, 1906) (Blattodea: Blaberidae: Panesthiinae) from Aichi prefecture, Japan. Females of A. chubudaigaku n. sp. are similar to A. costaricensis Carreno Tuhela, 2011 by the position of the nerve ring at level of the first third of the isthmus, the body length and the comparative measurements of the oesophagus and tail. They differ by the position of the excretory pore and the vulva. The males of A. chubudaigaku n. sp. are characterized by the absence of ornamentations in the cervical cuticle and the nerve ring located at the posterior third of the corpus. In addition, the males of the new species can be differentiated by the length of the body and the comparative lengths of the oesophagus and the tail. The phylogeny of A. chubudaigaku n. sp. is inferred by the D2-D3 domains of the LSU rDNA and the validity of the genus Aoruroides Travassos Kloss, 1958 is discussed on the basis of both molecular and morphological data. This constitutes the first species of the genus Aoruroides described from the Japanese archipelago.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Coynema poeyi (Coy, García Álvarez, 1993) (Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) from Antillanax pertyi (Kaup, 1869) (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Cuba and new locality records for the species.

Coynema poeyi (Coy, García Álvarez, 1993) (Oxyuridomorpha: Hystrignathidae) is redescribed and illustrated with the aid of SEM. New features of the cephalic end of both sexes and copulatory papillae pattern of the males were observed and the generic diagnosis is emended in order to include such features. New locality records are given. The phylogenetic position of the species is inferred on the basis of the D2-D3 segment of the LSU rDNA. C. poeyi is located basal in a monophyletic clade formed by other hystrignathids: two species of Longior Travassos Kloss, 1958 and Hystrignathus sp.

Morphological examination and phylogenetic analysis clarify the taxonomic status of Cuban Longior Travassos Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: Thelastomatoidea: Hystrignathidae).

The status of Longior alius García Coy, 1994 (Nematoda: Thelastomatoidea: Hystrignathidae) is discussed on the basis of new material obtained from its type host Antillanax pertyi (Kaup, 1869) (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Limonar, Guantánamo province, Cuba, near the type locality. Based on morphological and molecular studies L. alius is considered synonymous with L. longior Morffe García, 2011. L. longior and L. similis Morffe, García Ventosa, 2009 are redescribed and illustrated with the aid of SEM. New locality records for both species are given. The conspecificity of females and males of both species is supported by comparison of the D2-D3 segment of the 28S LSU rDNA. The inter-specific differences and phylogenetic position of L. longior and L. similis are discussed.

Redescription of the females of Hystrignathus rigidus Leidy, 1850 (Nematoda: Hystrignathidae), parasites of Odontotaenius disjunctus (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from eastern USA.

The female of Hystrignathus rigidus Leidy, 1850 (Nematoda: Hystrignathidae) is redescribed on the basis of new material from Odontotaenius disjunctus (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Athens, Georgia, USA; which also constitutes a new locality record. SEM images are provided for the first time for the species. It is also first shown that H. rigidus presents ridged-shelled eggs. A differential diagnosis is provided. H. rigidus can be differentiated from the rest of the species of this genus by having a short, non inflated first cephalic annule; spines that surpass the level of the oesophagus, an absence of lateral alae, ridged-shelled eggs and its length of the body and tail. The material from the present study differs from a previous redescription by Christie (1934) by its shorter body (2.125-2.950 vs. 2.130-4.200), first cephalic annule (0.003-0.005 vs. 0.012) and oesophagus (0.350-0.430 vs. 0.650-0.670).

Batwanema gen. n. and Chokwenema gen. n. (Oxyurida, Hystrignathidae), new nematode genera as parasites of Passalidae (Coleoptera) from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Two new genera and species parasitizing passalid beetles from the Democratic Republic of Congo are described. Batwanema congo gen. n. et sp. n. is characterized by having females with the cervical cuticle armed with scale-like projections, arranged initially in rows of eight elements that gradually divide and form pointed spines toward the end of the spiny region, two cephalic annuli, clavate procorpus and genital tract monodelphic-prodelphic. Two Malagasian species of Artigasia Christie, 1934 were placed in this genus as B. latum (Van Waerebeke, 1973) comb. n. and B. annulatum (Van Waerebeke, 1973) comb. n. Chokwenema lepidophorum gen. n. et sp. n. is characterized by having females with the cervical cuticle armed with scale-like projections, arranged initially in rows of eight elements (similar to Batwanema) that divide gradually, forming spines; a single cephalic annule cone-like, truncated, moderately inflated; procorpus sub-cylindrical and genital tract didelphic-amphidelphic.

Two new genera of nematode (Oxyurida, Hystrignathidae) parasites of Passalidae (Coleoptera) from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Two new genera and species parasitizing passalid beetles from the Democratic Republic of Congo are described. Kongonema meyeri gen. n. sp. n. is characterized by having females with the cervical cuticle unarmed, first cephalic annule cone-like and truncate, sub-cylindrical procorpus and genital tract didelphic-amphidelphic. The males of Kongonema meyeri gen. n. sp. n. have the procorpus sub-cylindrical, the dorsal cuticle of the tail end thickened, a single large, median mammiform pre-cloacal papilla and a pair of small, pre-cloacal, sub-lateral papillae at a short distance before the level of the cloaca. Lubanema decraemerae gen. n. sp. n. is characterized by the body markedly fusiform, cuticle unarmed and strongly annulated, procorpus sub-cylindrical, isthmus as a constriction between procorpus and basal bulb, genital tract monodelphic-prodelphic and the posterior end rounded with a very short tail appendage.

On some Cuban species of the genus Longior Travassos & Kloss, 1958 (Oxyurida, Hystrignathidae), with description of a new species.

Longior zayasi Coy, García & Alvarez, 1993 is established as incertae sedis because the males (declared as the holotype) are inconsistent with the generic diagnosis, particularly in relation to the morphology of the head and tail. Thus, the females of Longior zayasi species (which agree with the generic diagnosis) are renamed and re-described as Longior longior Morffe & García sp. n. We also described males found in the sample and considered as conspecific with the new species. A comparative table with the measurements of the most of the records of Longior longior is given. The male of Longior similis Morffe, García & Ventosa, 2009 is described from the type locality of the species and compared with the known males of the genus. A key to the females of the Cuban Longior is given.

Hystrignathus dearmasi sp. n. (Oxyurida, Hystrignathidae), first record of a nematode parasitizing a Panamanian Passalidae (Insecta, Coleoptera).

Hystrignathus dearmasi sp. n. (Oxyurida: Hystrignathidae) is described from an unidentified passalid beetle (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Panama. It resembles Hystrignathus cobbi Travassos & Kloss, 1957 from Brazil, by having a similar form of the cephalic end, extension of cervical spines and absence of lateral alae. It differs from the latter species by having the body shorter, the oesophagus and tail comparatively larger, the vulva situated more posterior and the eggs ridged. This species constitutes the first record of a nematode parasitizing a Panamanian passalid.