Bursaphelenchus abietinus sp. n. (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidas) associated with fir bark beetles (Pityokteines spp.) from declining silver fir trees in Austria
During 1997 and 1998, specimens of an undescribed Bursaphelenchus species were recovered from approximately 33 to 50 % of each of a hundred Pityokteines spinidens, P. vorontzowi and P. curvidens (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) fir bark beetles collected in the Bludenz region, Austria. Bursaphelenchus abietinus sp. n., is relatively small (L = 594 to 632 öm in males and females, respectively) with a delicate stylet (12 to 13 öm), a low ÖaÖ value (28 to 29), small spicules (13 öm), and a small bursa shaped like a two or three pointed shovel on the tail end. The moderately bent spicules have a narrow, high condylus and a blunt rostrum. Bursaphelenchus abietinus sp. n. is most similar to B. corneolus, B. wilfordi, B. hylobianum, B. fungivorus and B. hellenicus from which it differs by having differently shaped spicules and female tail terminus, relatively short post-uterine branch, morphometrics and from B. hellenicus by the number of caudal papillae.
