Abstract
The quantification of the transmission of entomopathogens is important for the evaluation of their establishment and potential as biological control agents, however, only few field or semi-field studies were performed. The microsporidium
Vairimorpha sp. was isolated from a gypsy moth (
Lymantria dispar) population in Bulgaria and is highly pathogenic for gypsy moth. Infective spores are produced in the larval fat body, and to a lesser extent probably in the malpighian tubules and the midgut epithelium. Unlike other microsporidia (e.g.
Nosema spp. from gypsy moth), which produce spores in silk glands and therefore may be transmitted by contaminated silk and faeces, the exit of spores of
Vairimorpha sp. from the fat body is still an obstacle. Spores can be released from cadavers of infected larvae or may be ingested through cannibalism. Laboratory studies show low rates of transmission among living larvae.
Parent Publication
Citation
Kolling, Thomas; Linde, Andreas. 2007. Field transmission of a microsporidian pathogen of gypsy moth,
Lymantria dispar. In: Gottschalk, Kurt W., ed. Proceedings, 17th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2006; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-10. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 59.
