Nematoda: Anguinidae - nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci Photographs on Plantago lanceolata, Ribwort Plantain Hosts: Strongly polyphagous on many wild and cultivated plants Up to 30 biological races occur within D. dipsaci, mostly distinguished by host preferences. There are few morphological differences. From www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/19287: "D. dipsaci is a migratory endoparasite that feeds upon parenchymatous tissue in stems and bulbs, causing the breakdown of the middle lamellae of cell walls. Feeding often causes swellings and distortion of aerial plant parts (stems, leaves, flowers) and necrosis or rotting of stem bases, bulbs, tubers and rhizomes"

Ditylenchus dipsaci
Giant Hill, Cerne, Dorset. May 2016