Distribution, hosts, and morphological characteristics of Tylenchulus palustris in Florida and Bermuda

Studies on the geographical distribution and hosts of Tylenchulus palustris were conducted over a 3-year period in Florida and Bermuda. Tylenchulus palustris was found on Aster elliottii and Liquidambar styraciflua roots in swamps of northern and central Florida. It was detected also on Borrichia arborescens and B. frutescens roots in tidal marshes of northern Florida and coastal rocklands of southern Florida and Bermuda. Posterior bodies of T. palustris swollen females from Bermuda did not differ from those of the paratypes; however, second-stage juvenile bodies and male tails from Bermuda were longer than those of the paratypes. Greenhouse host tests indicated that Mikania scandens is a host of T. palustris but not of T. semipenetrans.