PREVALENCE OF SPHAERULARIA BOMBI (NEMATODA: TYLENCHIDA: SPHAERULARIIDAE) IN BUMBLE BEE QUEENS (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) ON CAPE BRETON ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA

Abstract Sphaerularia bombi Dufour is an internal nematode parasite of bumble bee queens in North America and Europe. Infection functionally castrates the bee. Here we document the prevalence and intensity of S . bombi infections in seven species of Bombus and three species of Psithyrus on Cape Bret...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Canadian Entomologist
Main Authors: McCorquodale, D.B., Beresford, R.G., Francis, J.M., Thomson, C.E., Bartlett, C.M.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1998
Subjects:
Insect Science
Molecular Biology
Physiology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Structural Biology
Canada
Breton Island
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/ent130877-6
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0008347X00011068
Description
Summary:Abstract Sphaerularia bombi Dufour is an internal nematode parasite of bumble bee queens in North America and Europe. Infection functionally castrates the bee. Here we document the prevalence and intensity of S . bombi infections in seven species of Bombus and three species of Psithyrus on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. We found dramatic variation in prevalences among Bombus spp., and some evidence that prevalence increased as the nesting season progressed. Also, we report S . bombi in the bumble bee nest parasite Psithyrus insularis (Smith), the first record for the genus in North America.

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