Summary
Coelomomyces opifexi is a pathogen of two species of brackish mosquitoes in New Zealand, the endemic Opifex fuscus and the introduced Australian species Aedes australis. Since the activity of the fungus is confined to the south east coast of the South Island, which also corresponds to the present distribution pattern of Aedes australis in New Zealand, it is suggested that the Coelomomyces may have also been derived from Australian sources.
The host species breed in supralittoral pools of rapidly fluctuating salinities ranging from fresh water to hypersaline conditions. Temperature, hydrogen ion concentration, salinity, pool size, biotic composition factors were compared between infection and non-infection pools. With the exception of salinity readings there was no significant difference in the two.
Field studies showed that there was a correlation between a lower range of salinities and the appearance of infected larvae in the pool. A few supralittoral pools appear to be located in sheltered situations
Zusammenfassung
In Neuseeland ist Coelomomyces opifexi pathogen für zwei Arten brackiger Stechmücken, den endemischen Opifex fuscus und die eingeführte Australische Art Aedes australis. Da die Tätigkeit des Pilzes, wie die heutige Verbreitung von Aedes australis nur auf die südöstliche Küste der Südinsel beschränkt ist, wird vermutet, daß Coelomomyces auch australischer Herkunft ist.
Die Wirtspecies erzeugen in Küstenlachen schnellveränderliche Salzhaltigkeiten wechselnd von frisch bis zu übersalzig. Faktore wie Temperatur, Ph, Salzhaltigkeit, Lachegröße und biotischer Aufbau in infizierten und nichtinfizierten Lachen sind verglichen worden. Dabei gab es keine bedeutenden Unterschiede außer dem Salzigkeitsgrad.
Aus den dortigen Forschungen hat sich herausgestellt, daß es eine Wechselbeziehung zwischen einem niedrigen Salzhaltigkeitsbereich und der Erscheinung infizierter Larven gibt. Man hat verschiedene Lachen in beschützenden Lagen mit einem minimalen Meereseinfluß gefunden. Unter günstige Verhältnisse stellen sie eine Ansteckungsquelle dar.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belkin, J. N. - 1968 - Mosquito studies (Diptera: Culicidae) VII. The Culicidae of New Zealand. Amer. Entomol. Inst., contrib. 3(1): 182.
Couch, J. N. - 1968 - Sporangial germination of Coelomomyces punctatus and the conditions favouring the infection of Anopheles quadrimaculatus under laboratory conditions. Proc. Joint US.-Japan Seminar on microbial control of insect pests. Panel 8. Research on Pesticides: 93–105.
Laird, M. - 1956 - A New species of Coelomomyces (fungi) from Tasmanian mosquito larvae - J. Parasitol. 42: 53–55.
Lum, P. T. M. - 1963 - Infection of Aedes taeniorhynchus Wiedemann and Psorophora hozoardii Coquillett by the fungus Coelomomyces J. Insect Pathol. 5: 157–166.
McGregor, D. D. - 1964 - Physical ecology of some New Zealand Supralittoral pools. Hydrobiologia. 25: 277–284.
McGregor, D. D. - 1965 - Aspects of ecology of Opifex fuscus Hutton (Diptera: Culicidae). Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (A) 40: 9–14.
Muspratt, J. - 1963 - Destruction of the larvae of Anopheles gambiae Giles by a Coelomomyces fungus. Bull. Wld Hlth Org. 29: 81–86.
Nye, E. R. - 1962 - Aedes (Pseudoskusea) australis Erichson (Diptera: Culicidae) in New Zealand. Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand, Zoology. 3: 33–34.
Pillai, J. S. & Smith, J. M. B. - 1968 - Fungal Pathogens of mosquitoes in New Zealand. I. Coelomomyces opifexi sp. n. on the mosquito Opifex fuscus Hutton. J. Invert. Pathol. 11: 316–320.
Pillai, J. S. - 1969 - A Coelomomyces infection of Aedes australis in New Zealand. J. Invert. Pathol. 14: 93–95.
Umphlett, C. J. - 1968 - Ecology of Coelomomyces infection of mosquito larvae. J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 84: 108–114.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pillai, J.S. Coelomomyces opifexi (Pillai & Smith). Coelomomycetaceae: Blastocladiales.. Hydrobiologia 38, 425–436 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036548
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036548