Criconematinae habitats and Lobocriconema thornei n. sp. (criconematidae: nematoda).

A 16.4-ha arca at the Michigan State University Water Quality Research Site was surveyed to obtain information on the habitats and prominence of taxa of the Criconematinae. Fifteen species representing six genera (Macroposthonia, Lobocriconema, Criconema, Crossonema, Nothocriconema, and Xenocriconemella) of this subfamily were recovered from the experimental site. Species occurrence and population densities were evaluated by using prominence and importance values. The Criconematinae was one of the most prominent and important nematode subfamilies recovered from this area. The species successfully inhabited a broad range of woodlot and field vegetations, and soil management groups. Taxa of the Criconematinae were generally more prominent in woodlot than in field vegetations, although with several important exceptions, especially within the genus Macroposthonia. The second-most prominent and important species recovered was an tandescribed species of Lobocriconerna. It is described as Lobocriconema thornei n. sp., including scanning electron micrographs of females, and descriptions of several of the juvenile stages.