Bursaphelenchus hildegardae sp. n. isolated from coniferous wood is described. The new species belongs to the 'eggersi' group It is charactized by a bodv Iength of 911 (795-1000) μm and 1032 (855-1335) μm of males and females, respectively; slim body (a = 46); stylet 13 and 14 μm long in males and females, respectively, lateral field with three lines; long postuterine branch; female tail with a finely rounded, strongly ventrally-bent terminus (c' = 4.6), spicules 26 (23-28) öm long and having a distinctlv dorsally-benf condylus, and a dorso-ventrally visible terminal bursa. The new species differs from other species of the 'eggersi' group mainly by spicule shapc, particularly by the thin hook-like condylus. It can be differentiated from B. eggersi and B. tusciae morphologically, by means of ITS-RFLP pattems and ITSl / 2 rDNA. The sequences distinguish the new species significantly from other Bursaphelenchus species.
