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Molecular phylogenetic analysis of mermithid nematodes (Mermithida: Mermithidae) discovered from Japanese bumblebee (Hymenoptera: Bombinae) and behavioral observation of an infected bumblebee

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Abstract

We identified mermithid nematodes infecting a post-hibernating Japanese bumblebee (Bombus pseudobaicalensis Vogt) queen in Nemuro, Hokkaido, Japan. The infected queen did not lay eggs or feed on pollen during laboratory rearing. In addition, the queen usually crawled under the straw set in the rearing box, which differed from the typical behavior of a normal queen. Intra-abdominal observation revealed that, compared with the ovaries of a normal queen, those of the infected queen were undeveloped. Infection by mermithid nematodes may result in the sterilization of the bumblebee queen. The molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the mermithid species infecting the Japanese bumblebee queen differed from the Pheromermis species reported as a parasite of Hymenopteran insects, and that they were closely related to mermithid nematodes found in spiders and Ovomermis sinensis Chen, a parasite of the tobacco budworm larva Helicoverpa armigera Hübner. These findings constitute the first report of mermithid nematodes infecting Japanese bumblebee.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Prof. Tetsuhiko Sasaki for supporting our study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Honeybee Science Research Center, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8610, Japan

    Ryohei Kubo & Masato Ono

  2. Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8610, Japan

    Atsushi Ugajin & Masato Ono

Authors
  1. Ryohei Kubo
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  2. Atsushi Ugajin
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  3. Masato Ono
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Correspondence to Ryohei Kubo.

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Kubo, R., Ugajin, A. & Ono, M. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of mermithid nematodes (Mermithida: Mermithidae) discovered from Japanese bumblebee (Hymenoptera: Bombinae) and behavioral observation of an infected bumblebee. Appl Entomol Zool 51, 549–554 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-016-0430-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-016-0430-7

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