DIDILIA-OOGLYPTA N-GEN, N-SP (TETRADONEMATIDAE, MERMITHOIDEA, NEMATODA), A PARASITE OF PHLEBOTOMINE SANDFLIES IN AFGHANISTAN

A new tetradonematid nematode in a laboratory colony of Phlebotomus pa patasi from Afghanistan is described and named Didilia ooglypta n.g., n. sp. This genus differs from related ones by the extreme anterior po sition of the vulva and presence of a single gonad in both sexes. Afte r eggs of the nematode are ingested by first instar sandfly larvae, th ey hatch in the intestine and the juveniles migrate to and develop in the haemocoel. Female nematodes in the haemocoel of adult flies lay eg gs by pushing their heads through the abdominal intersegmental membran es of the host. An emended description of the family Tetradonematidae is provided.