Abstract
Third- and fifth-instar larvae ofMalacosoma disstria are highly susceptible to infection by the microsporidian speciesNosema disstriae, Pleistophora schubergi, andVairimorpha necatrix. More than 80% mortality occurred when third-instar larvae received 5×104 spores. The relative susceptibility ofM. disstria to the three parasites is indicated by the number of spores needed to kill 50% of the treated fifth-instar larvae:V. necatrix, 1.4×103;P. schubergi, 2.3×104; andN. disstriae, 2.3×105 spores/larva. Days to death forN. disstriae andP. schubergi generally decreased with increasing spore numbers; however, larger doses ofV. necatrix caused much earlier death.
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Wilson, G.G. Pathogenicity ofNosema disstriae, Pleistophora schubergi andVairimorpha necatrix (Microsporidia) to larvae of the forest tent caterpillar,Malacosoma disstria . Z. Parasitenkd. 70, 763–767 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00927129
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00927129