Different aspects concerning the quarantine pest X. americanum, including taxonomic characteristics, world distribution, host plants, viruses transmission potential, control methods and others, were reviewed. The difficulty in correctly identifying this nematode usually results in its misleading into another species belonging to the same genus. Considering that this pest has almost a worldwide distribution and that it is a virus’s vector, knowledge about it is important to avoid its introduction in new areas, like Brazil.
nematodes; nepovirus; Xiphinema americanum