CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TAXONOMY STATUS OF LONGIDORUS LATOCEPHALUS LAMBERTI, CHOLEVA ET AGOSTINELLI, 1983 AND L. PISI EDWARD, MISRA ET SINGH, 1964 (NEMATODA: LONGIDORIDAE)

Abstract

Available information on Longidorus latocephalus Lamberti, Choleva et Agostinelli, 1983 and L. pisi Edward, Misra et Singh, 1964 is analyzed taking into consideration the proposed synonymy of both species (Choleva et al., 1991). Minimum and maximum values of ranges of variation or mean values of each character for each population, previously recorded as L. latocephalus and L. pisi, are plotted. Results show a clear overlapping of populations only for index a, width at guide ring and width at oesophageal junction. All other characters of taxonomic importance distinguished two separate groups of populations (Balkan group as L. latocephalus and others as L. pisi). Both species are considered to be separate valid species. The population of Petrich previously recorded as L. siddiqi (L. pisi) (Choleva-Abadzhieva, 1975) is considered to be L. latocephalus.