Alternate host for mosquito parasite Coelomomyces.

Abstract

THE water mould Coelomomyces (Chytridiomycetes, Blastocladiales) is an obligate parasite of mosquito larvae. The fungus develops in the haemocoel of the host and is first visible as small unwalled hyphal bodies, which later differentiate into masses of thick-walled resistant sporangia. In appropriate conditions, each sporangium releases a large number of posteriorly uniflagellate zoospores1. Field studies of this pathogen indicate that it may be responsible for significant epizootics of mosquito larvae and considerable interest has been generated over its possible use in biological control of these troublesome insects2–6. This potential has not been confirmed in the laboratory. The production of infected larvae in controlled environmental conditions has proved to be a difficult and erratic task1,7. Couch8 has devised a technique for the production of large numbers of infected mosquitoes but this method uses quantities of microalgae and water from the original infection site.