Description of Meloidodera mexicana n. sp. (Nemata: Heteroderinae) with key to species

SUMMARY A new species of Heteroderinae Meloidoderu ntexicana n. sp. from Puebla State, Mexico is described and illustrated. Females are characterized by : spherical or pyriform shaped body; variable but short neck, sometimes surrounded by yellowish material; female stylet bent with knobs sloping posteriorly; hypodermis 6-8 pm thick; vulva.postequatoria1 with slightly prominent vulva lips; anus subterminal. Second-stage juveniles (J2) are characterized by : small body; oesophageal glands occupying only about one half of interna1 body cavity; stylet robust with moderate knobs and with slight anterior projections; phasmid with lem-like ampulla; tail short (33 pm long), conical with rounded terminus, and hyaline portion of tail slightly less than 50 % of tail length. Males are characterized by : small body, slightly curved after death; head with four annules and irregular longitudinal striations; labial disc elevated; stylet weaker than that of J2; spicules slightly curved; gubernaculum delicate; penial tube absent; lateral field areolated and with four incisures. A key to the seven valid species of Meloidodera is proposed.