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Parasitism of a successful weed biological control agent, Neogalerucella calmariensis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Kathryn Norman
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Carleton University, 209 Nesbitt Building, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
Naomi Cappuccino*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Carleton University, 209 Nesbitt Building, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
Mark R. Forbes
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Carleton University, 209 Nesbitt Building, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: naomi_cappuccino@carleton.ca).

Abstract

We investigated parasitism of the purple loosestrife beetle, Neogalerucella calmariensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an introduced weed biological control agent, at 13 sites in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, Canada. Beetles were parasitized by gregarine gut protozoans (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida) and much less commonly by nematodes (Nematoda: probably Mermithidae) and ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Erythraeidae). Female beetles had more gregarines than did males and the gregarine load was marginally higher in individuals from the original release sites than in individuals from recently colonized sites. Despite its overall success as a biological control agent, N. calmariensis harbours a substantial parasite load.

Résumé

Nous étudions le parasitisme chez Neogalerucella calmariensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), un agent introduit de lutte biologique contre les mauvaises herbes, à 13 sites de l’est de l’Ontario et de l’ouest du Québec, Canada. Les coléoptères sont parasités par des protozoaires intestinaux (grégarines (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida)) et, moins couramment, par des nématodes (Nematoda: probablement Mermithidae) et des acariens ectoparasites (Acari: Erythraeidae). Les coléoptères femelles portent plus de grégarines que les mâles et la charge de grégarines est légèrement plus élevée chez les individus provenant des sites originaux de libération que chez les individus des sites colonisés récemment. Malgré son succès global comme agent de lutte biologique, Neogalerucella calmariensis porte une importante charge parasitaire.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2009

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