Paratrichodorus and Trichodorus species The Stubby-Root Nematodes Damage to Corn.   Although actual losses are often hard to measure due to Stubby-Root nematodes occurring together with other species,  Paratrichodorus is considered a major pest  on corn where populations are large. Biology.   Paratrichodorus minor is small (less than 1 mm long) with a curved stylet. Ecology.   Stubby-Root nematodes are common in sandy soils in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain states, and are also known in the Midwest, Oregon, and California. Symptoms.   Field symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, and reduced yields.  P. minor feeds largely on the root tips,  stopping terminal growth of the rootlets, and resulting in the stubby-root effect. Damage to other crops.   Stubby-Root nematodes have a wide host range, although corn is a favored host. Control.  Chemicals often give effective control. Nonvolatile chemicals have been found to reduce populations more than soil fumigants.