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Rarely reported, widely distributed, and unexpectedly diverse: molecular characterization of mermithid nematodes (Nematoda: Mermithidae) infecting bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) in the USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2018

Amber D. Tripodi Open the ORCID record for Amber D. Tripodi [Opens in a new window]  and
James P. Strange
Amber D. Tripodi*
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Pollinating Insect Research Unit, 1410 N 800 E, Logan, UT 84341, USA
James P. Strange
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Pollinating Insect Research Unit, 1410 N 800 E, Logan, UT 84341, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Amber D. Tripodi, E-mail: amber.tripodi@ars.usda.gov
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Abstract

Mermithid nematodes (Nematoda: Mermithida: Mermithidae) parasitize a wide range of both terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate hosts, yet are recorded in bumble bees (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) only six times historically. Little is known about the specific identity of these parasites. In a single-season nationwide survey of internal parasites of 3646 bumble bees, we encountered six additional instances of mermithid parasitism in four bumble bee species and genetically characterized them using two regions of 18S to identify the specific host–parasite relationships. Three samples from the northeastern USA are morphologically and genetically identified as Mermis nigrescens, whereas three specimens collected from a single agricultural locality in the southeast USA fell into a clade with currently undescribed species. Nucleotide sequences of the V2–V6 region of 18S from the southeastern specimens were 2.6–3.0% divergent from one another, and 2.2–4.0% dissimilar to the nearest matches to available data. The dearth of available data prohibits positive identification of this parasite and its affinity for specific bumble bee hosts. By doubling the records of mermithid parasitism of bumble bee hosts and providing genetic data, this work will inform future investigations of this rare phenomenon.

Keywords

Bombus bimaculatusBombus griseocollisBombus impatiensBombus vagansMermis nigrescensparasitismpollinator18S
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 145 , Issue 12 , October 2018 , pp. 1558 - 1563
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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