Biology of Allomermis solenopsi, a mermithid nematode that parasitizes Solenopsis fire ants in Argentina

PORTER, S. D.; VARONE, LAURA

Reno

Congreso; Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting; 2008

Entomological Society of America

Allomermis solenopsii(Mermithidae: Nematoda) was described from the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Argentina. Information is provided of Allomermis solenposii, its effects on ants, bionomics and egg transmission to healthy workers. Fire ant workers parasitised with A. solenopsii were easily distinguished by their unusually large gasters. Parasitised workers contained an average of 1.4 nematodes. Both male and female nematodes often occurred in a single host. All parasitised workers died within two months of being field collected. Mermithid eggs were deposited in a single layer on the bottom of the plastic holding cup. A single female was capable of laying about 3,000?8,000 eggs over a period of several days to a week. There was no evidence of autotoky, since unmated females held alone underwent a moult but did not produce eggs. It is apparent that Allomermis solenopsii requires standing water to emerge from its host, mate and oviposit.