Host range of Strelkovimermis spiculatus in wild mosquito populations

ACHINELLY, M. F; MICIELI, M. V.

JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY

SOC VECTOR ECOLOGY

Lugar: Idaho, EEUU; Año: 2012

1081-1710

Strelkovimermis spiculatus (Poinar and Camino 1986) is a nematode parasite of mosquitoes isolated from the Neotropical region. We investigated the bionomics of this parasite in wild-mosquito populations to a better understanding of the dynamics in temporary breeding sites. Five grassy-pool habitats filled by rainwater were sampled from the summer 2007 through the fall 2008. Eight mosquito species were collected: Anopheles albitarsis, Culex chidesteri, Culex dolosus, Culex maxi, Ochlerotatus albifasciatus, Psorophora ciliata, Psorophora cyanescens, and Psorophora albigenu. Six of these species were parasitized: C. chidesteri, C. dolosus, C. maxi, O. albifasciatus, P. ciliata, and P. cyanescens. The mermithid occurrence in natural mosquito population was increased from the end of winter (August) to the end of the spring (November). Prevalence ranged from 11 to 100%. High levels of infections were registered only in O. albifasciatus larvae, the most abundant mosquito species (95%), followed by C. dolosus (2.7%). Strelkovimermis spiculatus completed its development in all infected wild-mosquito larvae. The presence of S. spiculatus in six natural mosquito populations increases the number of susceptible species to 24.