▁male ▁n emat odes , ▁with ▁distingu ishing ▁differences ▁being ▁a ▁sp ic ule ▁for ▁the ▁males ▁and ▁that ▁males ▁have ▁a ▁bent ▁tail ▁while ▁females ▁have ▁a ▁straight ▁tail . ▁ ▁They ▁reproduce ▁sex ually , ▁with ▁the ▁females ▁lay ing ▁single ▁eggs ▁in ▁the ▁root ▁or ▁soil . ▁ ▁After ▁emb ry onic ▁development ▁within ▁the ▁egg ▁to ▁the ▁first ▁stage ▁ju ven ile ▁( J 1 ), ▁the ▁n emat ode ▁mol ts ▁to ▁the ▁second - stage ▁ju ven ile ▁( J 2 ) ▁and ▁h atch es ▁from ▁the ▁egg . ▁ ▁The ▁n emat ode ▁then ▁mol ts ▁from ▁the ▁J 2 ▁to ▁J 3 , ▁J 3 ▁to ▁J 4 , ▁and ▁finally ▁J 4 ▁into ▁an ▁adult . ▁ ▁J 2 , ▁J 3 , ▁J 4 , ▁and ▁adult s ▁all ▁have ▁a ▁verm iform , ▁w orm - like ▁shape , ▁and ▁can ▁all ▁in va de ▁the ▁roots . ▁ ▁Entry ▁into ▁the ▁roots ▁is ▁accomplished ▁by ▁mechanical ▁pressure ▁and ▁cutting ▁action ▁of ▁the ▁sty let ▁of ▁the ▁n emat ode , ▁usually ▁just ▁behind ▁the ▁root ▁cap ▁but ▁may ▁occur ▁through ▁other ▁surfaces ▁of ▁the ▁roots , ▁rh iz om es , ▁or ▁tub ers . ▁ ▁The ▁n emat ode ▁fe eds ▁on ▁the ▁cells ▁within ▁the ▁root , ▁usually ▁until ▁the ▁cell ▁l ys es ▁and ▁cav ities ▁are ▁formed . ▁ ▁Then ▁the ▁n emat odes ▁move ▁forward ▁within ▁the ▁root ▁to ▁feed ▁on ▁health y ▁plant ▁cells