Records of mosquito-parasitic mermithid nematodes in the northcentral United States.

Mermithid parasitism (Nematoda: Mennithidae) in OchlerotoJus cantans (Meigen) (Diptera: Culieidae) in Denmark

An unidentified mermithid species parasitizing Och/erotatus cantons is presented, being the first mosquito-parasitic mermithid recorded from Denmark. The parasitic development is initiated in the larval host, continues in the pupa and is completed in the abdominal haemocoel of the adult, the mean body length of the parasite increasing from about 1 mm to 12-13 mm. From 1 to 5 mermithid worms wer...

Agamermis (Nematoda: Mermithidae) Infection in South Carolina Agricultural Pests.

Native and invasive stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the closely related invasive Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) are agricultural pests in the southeastern United States. Natural enemies, from various phyla, parasitize these pests and contribute to population regulation. We specifically investigated Nematoda infections in pentatomid and plataspid pests in one soybean field...

Mermithid nematode parasites of Coquillettidia perturbans in Massachusetts.

We surveyed 792 larval and 12,400 adult Coquillettidia perturbans for mermithid nematodes in 1990. Collections were made from cattail marshes in the greater Boston area. No mermithids were found in the adult mosquitoes, nor in larvae collected in mid-season, but 3 were found in larvae collected during September and October. This is only the second recorded occurrence of mermithids in Cq. pertur...

Predator avoidance behavior of Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae infected with mermithid nematodes (Nematoda: Mermithidae).

Mermithid nematode infections and drift in the mayfly Deleatidium spp. (Ephemeroptera).

Alterations in host phenotype induced by parasitic infection are often interpreted as either host or parasite adaptations, depending on which of the two appears to benefit. Mermithid nematodes typically castrate their insect hosts and, therefore, any change in host behavior has no further fitness consequences for the host; the adaptive value of the modified behavior must be assessed with respec...