Hopolaimus, more commonly known as Lance nematodes, affect a wide range of crops including grasses, corn, cotton, soybeans, cereals, sugarcane, and trees. They are most common found in sandy coastal soil of the Southeastern United States, but have been reported in various countries around the Middle East and Africa. Lance nematodes attack above the root tips, destroying cortex cells and causing necrotic lesions, often in irregular patches in fields. While they are known to be particularly resistant to many nematicides, yield loss (~10-38%) is lower than other nematodes because of limited distribution. As a result, crop rotation is a sufficient and effective management.
Hopolaimus are robust nematodes, usually measuring 1000-1500μm long. They have an off-set head with strong labial framework that gives a dark color to the snout. Both males and females have slight annulations along their entire body. They have a short strong stylet with distinct tulip-shaped knobs and a small faint metacorpus (median bulb). There is a slight dorsal overlapping of the esophagus and intestines. Females have a vulva around V-65, and a blunt "double layered" tail, while males have a rounded bursa (fin-like feature) and a pointed tail.