Studies on the Microsporidium, Octosporea Muscaedomesticae in Two Species of Calypterate Diptera

The microsporidium, Octosporea muscaedomesticae infects many species of calypterate flies. When isolated from S. bullata, P. regina, and A. obliqua, O. muscaedomesticae showed significant differences in shape and size of the spores. It is not known whether these differences represent different species or a single heterogeneous species. The major purpose of this study was to compare the morphological characteristics and life cycle of the pathogen isolated from the three hosts and its interactions with the larval and adult stages of S. bullata and P. regina in order to understand the role of pathogen, host, and environmental factors in the epizootiology of O. muscaedomesticae. Specifically, the following hypotheses were tested: (1) Isolates of O. muscaedomesticae are ecologically host specific and are seldom transmitted between different species of hosts in nature; (2) O. muscaedomesticae is a pathogen of adult stages and although it can infect larval flies, these infections are ecologically insignificant; (3) O. muscaedomesticae does not significantly affect the longevity and fecundity of the adult stages of the host species; (4) O. muscaedomesticae is transmitted from adult to adult flies and epizootics are influenced largely by adult fly density and the number of active feeding sites; (5) O. muscaedomesticae is not an important naturally occurring biological control agent of flies.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Entomology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Lanka, Saraswathi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Maddox, Joseph V.

• Biology, Entomology

Identifier

(UMI)AAI9236511

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72504