Since being identified in the late 1970s as a damaging pest of turf grass in Australia, there has been very limited scientific research on the southern sting nematode (Ibipora lolii). The aims of this study were to better understand its distribution and population dynamics in the Perth region of Western Australia, and to investigate the resistance and tolerance of turf cultivars as a potential management strategy.In a survey conducted on municipal sports fields in 2015, I. lolii was detected in 51% (46 out of 90) randomly-selected sites from 21 council areas. In the sites where it was detected, the mean population density was 27 nematodes/200 mL of soil. However, it was observed that infestations were not evenly distributed within the sports fields. This was based on the presence of symptoms, such as sparse coverage and shallow root systems, in the predominantly kikuyu turf grass. Further testing of ten selected sites in 2016 found the mean number of I. lolii was much higher (202 nematodes/200 mL of soil) in localised areas where the turf was in poor condition. These were often located in heavily-trafficked areas where the original turf had been replaced with planting material from turf farms that were infested with the nematode.A 2-year study (2016 to 2018) of population dynamics at two kikuyu sports fields found that I. lolii exhibited a pattern of seasonal fluctuation in population density. Total numbers increased in cool and wet conditions from May to October, and declined during the hot and dry period from November to April. Juvenile stages were present at every sampling date, indicating that I. lolii reproduces all-year-round, peaking in October. In terms of distribution down the soil profile, the highest population density of I. lolii was in the top 10 cm, where the majority of the root system is located. However, the nematode was found at all sampling depths to 70 cm, demonstrating that it is also capable of deep vertical movement. A field experiment was established in 2017 to evaluate two cultivars of couch (Cynodon dactylon cv. Grand Prix and Wintergreen), two cultivars of hybrid couch (C. dactylon x C. transvaalensis cv. TifTurf and TifSport) and two cultivars of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum cv. Village Green and common) for their resistance and tolerance to I. lolii in microplots infested with the nematode. There was a rapid increase in the population of I. lolii on all cultivars in the first 2 months after planting, causing a severe decline in the condition of the turf. After 4 months, there were no statistically significant differences in nematode populations, indicating that none of the cultivars were resistant to I. lolii. Also, none of the cultivars were able to tolerate feeding by the nematode, as the infested microplots had an overall average of 88% less root growth than the adjacent non-infested microplots after four months. Nevertheless, couch cultivars Grand Prix and TifTuf tended to maintain better surface integrity than the other couch and kikuyu cultivars infested with I. lolii, although further investigation is warranted to evaluate their performance over a much longer period.