NOTES ON TAXONOMY AND BIOLOGY: Female M. litoralis have an oval cuticular perineal pattern marked by smooth striae forming a high dorsal arch with prominent lateral irregular lines. Prominent cheeks as in M. kikuyensis are present at both sides of vulva slit. This root-knot nematode has sedentary endoparasitic habits. Second-stage juveniles (J2) in the soil penetrate host roots where they establish a specialized feeding site (giant cells) in the stele. As J2 develop, they cause root swellings and become swollen females. Females rupture root cortex and some time protrude with the egg masses from the root surface. J2 emerge from the egg masses and migrate in the soil (Elmiligy, 1968).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: This European root-knot nematode is present in Belgium and France (Elmiligy, 1968, Southey, 1993).

HOSTS: Ligustrum (Ligustrum sp.) is the only known host of this species.

CROP LOSSES: This root-knot nematode has no economic significance (Southery, 1993).

MEANS OF MOVEMENT AND DISPERSAL:  Through root material, soil debris, and by infected bare root propagative plant material.

RATING: (VL) Taking into consideration the limited distribution of this nematode, its host, and the low chances of its introduction into the US, the risk posed by this root-knot nematode to the United States is rated very low.

REFERENCES:
    Elmiligy, I. A. 1968. Three new spcies of the genus Meloidogyne Goeldi, 1887 (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) Nematologica 14:577-590.
    Southey, J. F. 1993. Nematode pests of ornamental and bulb crops. Pp.463-500 in K. Evans, D. L. Trudgill, and J. M. Webster eds. Plant parasitic nematodes in temperate agriculture. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.