Abstract Phylogenetic analysis of five gene fragments: ITS-rRNA, D2 and D3 of 28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, Hsp90 and actin, of Heterodera species and two representative Afenestrata species, A. koreana and A. orientalis, form a clade with H. cynodontis, H. bifenestra and an unidentified Heterodera sp. infecting grasses. Based on these results and the consideration that the key diagnostic characters of Afenestrata are convergent and do not define a clade, synonymisation of Afenestrata with Heterodera is proposed. The following new combinations are made: H. africana comb. n., H. axonopi comb. n., H. koreana comb. n., and H. orientalis comb. n. Furthermore, H. (= Afenestrata) sacchari is renamed as H. saccharophila nom. nov. to avoid homonymy. All these species, together with H. bamboosi, are regarded as members of a paraphyletic ‘Afenestrata group’ within Heterodera. Whilst recognised as artificial, the Afenestrata group is nevertheless an aid to discussion about these similar species. Morphological and molecular characterisation of populations of H. koreana comb. n. from Florida and H. orientalis comb. n. from Florida and Guatemala verify the identification of these populations as valid representatives for molecular studies of the species. Light and SEM observations also provide new detail and a broader understanding of the morphological range of both species. These include a longer stylet for females of H. koreana comb. n. and H. orientalis comb. n. than reported in the original descriptions. In addition, previously unreported tuberculate ridges are noted on the surface of vulval lips of H. orientalis comb. n. The lip region of second-stage juveniles of H. koreana comb. n. and H. orientalis comb. n. both include fused adjacent submedian lips that also fuse with the labial disc and the second lip annulus. The ITS-rRNA gene sequences of H. orientalis comb. n. populations from Florida and Guatemala were similar to those from the Russian type locality. Diagnostic PCR-RFLP of ITS-rRNA profiles with six enzymes for H. orientalis comb. n. and H. koreana comb. n. are given. A key for the morphological identification of species of the Afenestrata group is provided.