ISOMERMIS SIERRENSIS SP. N. (NEMATODA: MERMITHIDAE) A PARASITE OF SIMULIUM WOLFFHUEGELI ROUBAUD (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE) IN ARGENTINA

Abstract

Isomermis sierrensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Mennithidae) a parasite of larvae of the blackfly Simulium wolffbuegeli Roubaud (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Argentina, is described. Diagnostic characters of this species are a mouth slightly displaced to ventral side; six cephalic papillae; eight hypodermal chords; amphids small and oval; vagina slightly S-shaped; two short spicules, sickle-shaped and without any sculpture; three rows of genital papillae, the middle row with 4 pre-anal and 7 post-anal papillae, the lateral rows each with papillae; post-parasitic juveniles with long, thin and pointed tail appendage.