Description of Chordodes anthophorus (Gordiida) for the first time in Iran with an emphasis on scanning electron microscopy characters

Abstract

We report a female Chordodes anthophorus from a Giant Asian Mantis (Hierodula membranacea) for the first time from Iran. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to describe the characters and substructures precisely. We demonstrate characteristic cuticular patterns for Chordodes anthophorus. The presence of five types of areoles including simple, tubercle, crowned and circumcluster areoles and also crowned areoles with long fi laments which is a common feature in females, confi rm our investigation.

Keywords

• nematomorpha
• gordiida
• chordodes
• scanning electron microscopy
• iran