Description of Bursaphelenchus aberrans n. sp. (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae) isolated from pine wood in Guangdong Province, China

Abstract Bursaphelenchus aberrans n. sp. is described and figured. The nematode was found in dead wood of Pinus massoniana Lamb. from one locality in Fengkai county, Guangdong Province, China. Both sexes are of moderate length ranging from 459-562 μm in the female and 390-556 μm in the male with a slender body (a = 35-42 in female and 31-48 in male) and a medium length tail (c = 13-17 in female and 14-19 in male). The stylet measures 12-14 μm long and the spicule 16-20 μm. The female vulva is located at 71-78% and has the anterior vulval lip posteriorly directed to form a small flap. The conoid tail of both sexes is ventrally curved, tapering gradually to the terminus. The male has a short, terminal, caudal ala. The spicule form is unusual for the genus in that the rostrum and condylus are fused and cap-like. A cucullus is lacking. B. aberrans n. sp. is similar to B. idius Rühm, 1956 in spicule shape, from which it differs in longer spicule length (16-20 vs 14-15 μm) and proportionately longer tail (c = 13-19 vs 23-33). It is also similar to B. bestiolus Massey, 1964 in all essential measurements, but the two species are easily differentiated by spicule shape as well as by the greater number of lateral incisures in B. aberrans n. sp. (4 vs 0).