File:Plant-parasitic nematode feeding types.jpg

English: A cross section of a root illustrating the different feeding habits of sedentary and migratory nematodes. In general, plant-parasitic nematodes are categorized as endoparasitic, where they spend one or more of their life stages embedded in the plant tissue, or ectoparasitic, where the nematodes remain outside the plants to feed from plant cells. Examples of ectoparasitic nematodes include needle nematodes (Longidorus spp.) and dagger nematodes (Xiphinema spp.). The endoparasitic nematodes can be subdivided into sedentary or migratory nematodes. The sedentary endoparasitic nematodes include the root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.) and cyst (Heterodera and Globodera spp.) nematodes. These nematodes enter the plant roots as second stage juveniles. They travel to the plant vasculature and remain inside the root as they establish their permanent feeding sites. After molting three times, the adult RKN and CN females are enlarged and globose. The females lay their eggs in a gelatinous matrix (RKN), or retain the majority of eggs within the body of the female (CN). The migratory endoparasitic nematodes enter plant tissues but do not establish permanent feeding sites. They destructively migrate and feed from plant cells. An example of a migratory endoparasitic nematode are root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.). Aside from the eggs shown within the cyst nematodes, the nematode drawings only represent their general three-dimensional, external body structure; not drawn to scale.