Genus Hopolaimus

Lance Nematode

Two important species:
- H. columbus (limited in distribution; economically
important on soybean and cotton is southern US
- H. galeatus (more widely distributed; wider host range
including cotton, wheat, pine, oak, grasses)

• large nematode that can be very destructive
  
• forms cavities in cortex by rupturing cells
  
• all stages are infective
• life cycle 45-49 days
• prolific numbers detectable in infected plant tissue
• forms cavities and necrotic lesions, but does not feed in the stele
• feed as semiendoparasites with bodies sometimes outside root surface
• usually do not infect in damaging numbers