Microsporidoses of the hymenopterous parasites, Campoletis sonorensis and Cardiochiles nigriceps, larval parasites of Heliothis species

Microsporidia Biological Control Agents and Pathogens of Beneficial Insects

“…In many cases, microsporidia-infected beneficial arthropods exhibit a variety of symptoms, including reduced food consumption, prolonged larval and pupal development, deformed pupae and adults, reduced fecundity and longevity, and death (e.g., see Brooks & Cranford 1972;Siegel et al 1986b;Zchori-Fein et al 1992;Geden et al 1995;Bjørnson & Keddie 1999;Schuld et al 1999;Idris et al 2001;Steele & Bjørnson 2012). Microsporidia may have more noticeable effects when host insects are under stress (Kluge & Caldwell 1992), as is often the case in mass-rearings.…”

“…Brooks and Cranford (1972) report the effects of N. heliothidis on the larval parasitoids Campoletis sonorensis and Cardiochiles nigriceps and describe the microsporidian pathogens, Nosema campoletidis and Nosema cardiochiles from C. sonorensis and C. nigriceps, respectively. McNeil and Brooks (1974) report the effects of N. heliothidis and N. campoletidis on Catolaccus aenoviridis and Spilochalcis side, two hyperparasitoids of C. sonorensis.…”

“…Adults are more heavily infected than the pupae. Adult reproductive tissues are more extensively invaded, providing evidence that N. heliothidis is transmitted transovarially (Brooks & Cranford 1972).…”

“…A few adults have malformed wings and some individuals are weak upon emergence. The latter usually die within 24 h (Brooks & Cranford 1972).…”

Influence of temperature on microsporidia infections in a natural population of Simulium pertinax Kollar, 1832 (Diptera; Simuliidae)

“…Some studies have found that spore sizes of one species is not affected by the host type (Thomson, 1960) or the temperature at which the host is reared (Jouvenaz and Lofgren, 1984). Other studies, however, have shown that the spore size of a given species can vary significantly depending on the host type (Brooks and Cranford, 1972), the stage of the host (Thomson, 1960), and the temperature at which the infected host is reared (Sedlacek et al, 1985). Even though there was no significant variation in the water temperature of the Andorinhas river, this abiotic factor may have influenced the spore size.…”