New Record of Leidynema appendiculata (Leidy, 1850) Chitwood, 1932. (Oxyuroidea: Thelastomatidae) from the Cockroaches Blatta orientalis (Dictyopetra: Blattidae) from Kashmir

During the present study, for the first time Nematode parasites were from the colon region of the intestine of Blatta orientalis from Srinagar. On close examination, they were found to resemble to those of Leidynema appendiculate in all their morphological and biological features. Both male and female specimens were recovered but male specimens were lesser in comparison to females. Measurements and camera lucida drawings are also given. New Record of Leidynema appendiculata (Leidy, 1850) Chitwood, 1932. (Oxyuroidea: Thelastomatidae) from the Cockroaches Blatta orientalis (Dictyopetra: Blattidae) from Kashmir Rehana R, Bhagat RC, Fayaz A Rukhsana and Tanveer A Sofi* Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India


Introduction
Insect parasitic nematodes are small and round worms that complete part of their life-cycle in insects. Several species of these nematodes can kill insects in this process and are of considerable interest because of their potential being developed and marketed as biological control agents of pest insects. Parasitic nematodes of Kashmir valley offer an ideal environment for the survival of various kinds of insect's species to unique geographical position of temperate climate [1,2]. It is home for representative of almost all phyla situated in the subtropical north temperate region of Asia.
Thousands of species of insect parasitic nematodes not only attack the general insects form, belonging to different orders but also the insect pests of agricultural, veterinary, medical and forestry importance. Potential for use of entomophilic nematodes as self perpetuating biological control agents lies in areas where chemical pesticides are too expensive, not practical or most noxious to human and environment [3].

Materials and Methods
The cockroaches for the present study were collected at nighe with the help of forceps from toilet, main holes bathroom from different localities of Srinagar, and were then dissected with the help of scissors, forceps and needles and the alimentary tract was drawn out intact by grasping the head and thorax and gently pulling apart. The intestine was then slit lengthwise with fine needles and placed flat on a slide. Although the nematode parasites were best studied alive, distilled water and normal salt solution were found to be the best media to observe live nematode Parasites. Nematodes were picked out of this suspension under the low magnification of a Stereoscopic microscope. Slivers of bamboo and fine tipped brushes were used in the present study for handling and picking of nematodes for its easy availability and handling.
After thorough washing of the parasites in normal saline were fixed in either AFA or in Sizzling hot 70% alcohol. Subsequently they were cleared in glycerin or in lactophenol. Their temporary mounts were made in glycerin. Nematodes were arranged in the centre of a drop of mounting fluid separated from each other and rested on the glass slide i.e., not floating in the mountant [4]. All diagrams were made with the help of camera lucida and measurements were taken with the aid of oculometer in mm.

Key to the Families of Superfamily Oxyuroidea
1. Corpus of oesophagus not extremely short; male with one or zero spicules -Corpus of oesophagus extremely short and thick; male with two or zero spicules -Atractidae.
Adults found in gut of millipedes -Rhingonematidae

Diagnostic Characters of the Family Thelastomatidae
The thalastomatid, parasites of insects and myriapods, throughout the literature and descriptions of between 60 and 70 species have been provided but usually not much other information is available. However, studies by Dobrovolny and Ackert [5] and other indicate that most of these species probably have the same type of the life-cycle which is comparatively simple. Eggs pass out of the host with feces. Eggs do not hatch in the intestine to re-infect the same host but must first undergo some development on the outside to reach an infective stage. The various arthropod hosts acquire their parasites by swallowing these infective eggs.
Mouth of female surrounded by eight sub median papillae or labiopapillae. Amphids represented externally by circular or oval openings; esophagus consisting of an anterior corpus, which may or may not be modified; a more or less distinct isthmus and a posterior valvular bulb. Females with one or more ovaries. Male with single testis, a single spicule or none, and one to five pairs of caudal papillae [6,7].

Diagnostic Characters of the Genus Leidynema
Mouth surrounded by very large sub median labiopapillae, amphids or lateral organs appearing externally as small circular openings. Esophagus of female consisting of an anterior part which is subdivided into cylindrical parts of which the posterior is somewhat larger in diameter than the anterior, a distinct isthmus, and a valvular bulb. Excretory pore posterior to base of esophagus. Intestine may or may not be enlarged anteriorly to form a cardia; a posteriorly directed caecum may or may not be present; the intestine may have a loop in the posterior part of the body. Vulva near middle of body; amphidelphic [8][9][10]. Eggs ellipsoidal. Esophagus of male without distinct posterior swelling in anterior part of esophagus. Tail of female attenuated or filiform. Tail of male short, rounded, filiform. One pair of large preanal caudal papillae, two pairs of postanal papillae. One spicule.

Location: Srinagar
Twenty-eight female and two male nematode parasites from ten Cockroaches (Blatta orientalis) from Srinagar, were recovered. It favored more anterior position and was more restricted in its distribution in the colon and was found to be a lumen dweller. A brief description of the parasite is given as under.

Remarks
The genus Leidynema was proposed by Schwenk in Travassos, 1929 to accommodate Oxyuris blattae oreintalis 0.2 mm