Sphaerularia bombi (Nematoda: Sphaerulariidae) parasitizing Bombus atratus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in southern South America.

PLISCHUK, S.; LANGE, C. E.

PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH

SPRINGER

Lugar: Düsseldorf; Año: 2012 p. 947 - 950

0932-0113

Bumblebees are one of the most important pollinator insects, however knowledge on their parasitism specially in South America, is limited. This study reports the first detections of a sphaerularid nematode parasitizing queens of the native bumblebee Bombus atratus in Argentina. The measurement and the morphological aspect of eggs, larvae, and adults, strongly suggest that the found species is Sphaerularia bombi Dufour 1942, an important parasite that affects reproductive and foraging behaviors of the host. The parasite was present in 2008 and 2009 in San Carlos de Bariloche and surroundings of La Plata, while prevalence varied between 8 and 20%.