Turfgrass Nematode Library
Reference profiles for plant-parasitic nematodes — sampling protocols, damage thresholds, and management strategies.
Diagnosis requires laboratory analysis. Nematode damage cannot be confirmed by visual symptoms alone. Always submit soil samples to a certified nematology laboratory for species identification and population counts before making management decisions.
13 nematodes
Awl nematode
Dolichodorus spp.
An ectoparasite of wet sites and pond/stream margins that damages roots at high populations.
Cyst nematode
Heterodera spp.
An endoparasite whose females swell into hardy cysts on roots; persistent and difficult to control without destroying the turf.
Dagger nematode
Xiphinema spp.
A large ectoparasite that causes stunting, chlorosis, and severe root damage at high populations.
Lance nematode
Hoplolaimus spp.
A migratory parasite feeding on roots, contributing to decline complexes on greens.
Lesion nematode
Pratylenchus spp.
A migratory endoparasite that produces dark lesions as it tunnels through root tissue.
Needle nematode
Longidorus spp.
A large ectoparasite that feeds at root tips, causing stunted, swollen roots and patchy decline.
Pin nematode
Paratylenchus spp.
The smallest plant-parasitic nematodes; ectoparasites that occasionally contribute to decline at high populations.
Ring nematode
Mesocriconema spp.
A common ectoparasite that, at high populations, contributes to root decline and thinning.
Root-knot nematode
Meloidogyne spp.
An endoparasite that forms galls/swellings on roots, reducing water and nutrient uptake.
Spiral nematode
Helicotylenchus spp.
A very common ectoparasite that contributes to root decline mostly at high populations.
Sting nematode
Belonolaimus longicaudatus
One of the most damaging turf nematodes, an ectoparasite that severely prunes roots in sandy soils.
Stubby-root nematode
Trichodorus / Paratrichodorus spp.
An ectoparasite whose feeding on root tips produces short, stubby, branched root systems.
Stunt nematode
Tylenchorhynchus spp.
An ectoparasite that causes stunting and reduced rooting in turf at damaging populations.