Spiroplasma (Mollicutes: Spiroplasmataceae) Pathogenic for Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Intrathoracic inoculation with the mosquito spiroplasma, Spiroplasma taïwanense Abalain-Colloc et al., was found to reduce significantly the survival of adult male and female Aedes aegypti (L.) and Anopheles stephensi Liston. This spiroplasma also reduced significantly the flight capacity of adult female Ae. aegypti 5-8 d after inoculation and adult female An. stephensi 4 d after inoculation. Adult female An. stephensi were incapable of flight 5 d after inoculation. As such, S. taïwanense joins Bacillus thuringiensis and B. sphaericus as bacteria known to be pathogenic for mosquito vectors.