Improved rearing methods for Heleidomermis magnapapula (Nematoda: Mermithidae), a larval parasite of Culicoides variipennis sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Journal of Medical Entomology
K A Luhring, B A Mullens

Abstract

Improvements in rearing techniques have decreased maintenance needs and have increased the parasitism rate of larval Culicoides variipennis sonorensis Wirth & Jones by the mermithid nematode, Heleidomermis magnapapula Poinar & Mullens. In colony pans with 2,500-3,000 larval C. v. sonorensis, H. magnapapula adults emerged from 22.5% of hosts, with an average yield of 159 female H. magnapapula per pan. H. magnapapula females refrigerated for 1 wk showed no decline in preparasite infectivity compared with nonrefrigerated females. Female insemination did not differ with various mating combinations of 1 or 2 females with 1 or 2 males; 37-47% of these pairs failed to produce fertilized eggs. In 9-cm petri dishes, the optimal preparasite/host ratio was 900 infective preparasites (1 female's entire clutch) to 650-700 C. v. sonorensis larvae. Overall, parasite production was more time- and labor-efficient when larvae were parasitized in regular colony pans compared with petri dishes.

Citations

Mar 8, 2017·EFSA Journal·UNKNOWN EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare

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