Merlinius paniculoides n. sp. from Italy (Tylenchina: Belonolaimidae)

Merlinius paniculoides n. sp. is described from a bisexual Italian population found in northern Italy. This species has a coarsely annulated cuticle with approximately 30 longitudinal striae in addition to the six lateral field incisures; consequently the cuticle appears tessellate. The female tail is subcylindrical with a bluntly, rounded, non-annulated terminus. Merlinius paniculoides shares the tessellate cuticular ornamentation and the offset labial region with M. lenorus (Brown, 1956) Siddiqi, 1970 and M. tartuensis (Krall, 1959) Siddiqi, 1970. It differs from M. lenorus by the higher c and lower c' ratios (c = 16-19 vs. 12-15 and c' = 2.2-2,8 vs. 3.7) and greater number of longitudinal striae (28-32 vs. 24). It differs from M. tartuensis by a fewer number of annuti from stylet knob base to lip constriction (8-9 vs. 21), shorter stylet (19-21 vs. 24 mum), presence of males, and higher c' value (c' = 2.2-2.8 vs. 1.9).