''Levipalatum texanum'' is a free-living

nematode The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-Parasitism, parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhab ...

(roundworm) in the family

Diplogastridae Diplogastridae, formerly Diplogasteridae, are a family of nematodes (roundworms) known from a wide range of habitats, often in commensal or parasitic associations with insects. Description Diplogastrid nematodes are characterized by a distinc ...

. The species is androdioecious, consisting of self-fertile hermaphrodites which are morphologically females, and males. It is known from the south-eastern United States and has been found to live in association with scarab beetles (''

Cyclocephala ''Cyclocephala'' is a genus of scarab beetles from the subfamily Dynastinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Beetles of this genus occur from southeastern Canada to Argentina and the West Indies. Adults of this genus are nocturnal or crepuscular, an ...

'' sp.), although it has also been baited from soil. Nematodes of this species can be cultured on bacterium '' Escherichia coli'' in the laboratory, and they are presumed to also feed on microorganisms in the wild. ''Levipalatum'' is a monotypic genus.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q20721253 Nematodes described in 2014 Diplogastridae