Reesimermis nielseni is a nematode in the family Mermithidae. It is a parasite of the larvae of mosquitoes, spending part of its life cycle in its host's body cavity and part in the water as a free-living worm. It has been investigated as a biological pest control agent to control mosquitoes.[2]
| Reesimermis nielseni | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Enoplea |
| Order: | Mermithida |
| Family: | Mermithidae |
| Genus: | Reesimermis |
| Species: | R. nielseni
|
| Binomial name | |
| Reesimermis nielseni Tsai & Grundmann, 1969[1]
| |
Description
editThis nematode grows to an average length of 15 mm (0.6 in); It tends to be longer in larger hosts and shorter when there are several parasites in one host.[2]
Ecology
editReesimermis nielseni is a parasite of the larvae of mosquitoes. It is known to infect 22 different species of mosquito in the wild and another 33 species in the laboratory.[2]
On emerging from their host larvae, these nematodes fall to the bottom of the water body. They become sexually mature in about sixty days and females lay a total of around 2,500 eggs over a period of eighteen days or so. The eggs hatch after four weeks and each preparasitic larva searches for a suitable host; it will die if it does not find one within seventy-two hours. It bores a hole through the cuticle of the host mosquito larva with a stylet, and develops in its body cavity. When ready to leave the mosquito larva, it bores a larger hole through which it emerges. The mosquito larva does not survive because its body fluids leak out through the hole.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ Tsai, Y.H.; Grundmann, A.W. (1969). "Reesimermis nielseni gen. et sp. n.(Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing mosquitoes in Wyoming". Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington. 36 (1): 61–67.
- ^ a b c d National Academy of Sciences (U.S.). Panel on Perspectives in Mosquito-Control Methods Suitable for Developing Countries (1973). Mosquito Control: Some Perspectives for Developing Countries. National Academies. pp. 23–26.
- ^ Petersen, J.J. (1975). "Development and Fecundity of Reesimermis nielseni, a Nematode Parasite of Mosquitoes". Journal of Nematology. 7 (3): 211–214. PMC 2620124. PMID 19308158.