[1][2][3] This foliar nematode is found in Africa, North, Central, and South America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Pacific islands.

As the plant begins to reach reproductive maturity the number of nematodes increases dramatically.

The nematodes migrate to feed on reproductive structures eventually settling in the developing rice seed.

This nematode is most often associated with a disease in which the leaves of the rice plant turn white in the meristematic regions followed by necrosis.

[4][8] These nematodes can also cause stunting and sterility with yield losses of up to 50% reported[4][9] The most common management practice for A. besseyi is to maintain clean seed stocks.