Survey of mermithid nematodes (Mermithida: Mermithidae) infecting fruit-piercing stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Survey of mermithid nematodes (Mermithida: Mermithidae) infecting fruit‑piercing stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Japan Shu Watanabe1 · Ayaka Tsunashima1 · Kyo Itoyama1 · Ryoji Shinya1,2 Received: 30 April 2020 / Accepted: 12 October 2020 © The Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology 2020
Abstract Mermithid nematodes (Mermithida: Mermithidae) infect and kill many different invertebrates and have been investigated for their potential as a biological control agent of insect pests. In this study, we conducted a survey of mermithid nematodes infecting fruit-piercing stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Japan. We collected fruit-piercing stink bugs in four different prefectures (Shizuoka, Mie, Tokushima, and Saga) and investigated the distribution and infection ratio by mermithid nematodes. The results indicate that the nematode infection ratio of Glaucias subpunctatus (Walker) was higher than that of Plautia stali Scott or Halyomorpha halys (Stål). Furthermore, significant differences in mermithid infection percentages were observed among regions and seasons, with the highest being in G. subpunctatus in Mie during May–June. Of note, all mermithid nematodes were isolated from stink bugs collected from plants, and no nematodes were isolated from stink bugs attracted to store lights. This implies that parasitism of mermithid nematodes may affect the behavior of the host stink bugs. Furthermore, we obtained DNA sequences and simple morphological characteristics for the nematodes isolated. This study indicates that the mermithid nematodes obtained from stink bugs belong in the genus Hexamermis. Keywords Hexamermis · Glaucias subpunctatus · Prevalence of infection · Behavioral manipulation · Phylogeny
Introduction Mermithids (Mermithida: Mermithidae) are long (often 5–20 cm or more), slender roundworms that are parasites of invertebrates, mainly insects (Hajek, 2004; Kaiser 1991). They are atypical nematodes, both structurally and physiologically (Gordon 1981). Mermithid larvae absorb nutrients across the outer cuticle and develop in the hemocoel of an insect until they eventually emerge (Poinar and Hess 1977). Although the majority of insect-parasitic nematodes belong to the class Chromadorea (Platzer 2007), the order Mermithida is placed in the class Enoplea according to the current taxonomic systems, based on its classic morphology and single-subunit ribosomal DNA sequences (De Ley and Blaxter 2002). Mermithid parasitism tends to be host specific by species or family (Poinar 1979). Several effects of mermithids
* Ryoji Shinya [email protected] 1
School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214‑8571, Japan
JST PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Japan
2
on their hosts have been reported, including death, retarded development, and female sterility (Kaiser 1991). Because of their ability to kill the host insect, mermithids have attracted attention as a biological control agent. The mosquito parasite Romanomermis culicivorax Ross and Smith has been well studied and e
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