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Sphaerularia bombi (Nematoda: Sphaerulariidae) parasitizing Bombus atratus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in southern South America

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Abstract

Bumble bees are some of the most important insect pollinators. However, knowledge on parasites associated to bumble bees in South America is very limited. This study reports the first isolation of a sphaerularid nematode parasitizing queens of the native bumble bee Bombus atratus in Argentina. Measurements and morphological characters of eggs, juveniles, and adults strongly suggest that the species is Sphaerularia bombi, a parasite that affects the reproduction and foraging behavior of the host. The nematode was detected in bumble bees of San Carlos de Bariloche, northwestern Patagonia region, and the surroundings of La Plata, northeastern Pampas region. Prevalence varied between 8% and 20%.

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Acknowledgements

To L. Giambelluca and G. T. Navone for their collaboration. This study was funded by “Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas (CIC), provincia de Buenos Aires”, “Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)”, and IDEAWILD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores – CEPAVE (CONICET CCT La Plata – UNLP) La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Santiago Plischuk & Carlos E. Lange

  2. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas (CIC) de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Carlos E. Lange

  3. CEPAVE, Calle 2 # 584 (B1902CHX), La Plata, Argentina

    Santiago Plischuk

Authors
  1. Santiago Plischuk
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  2. Carlos E. Lange
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Correspondence to Santiago Plischuk.

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Plischuk, S., Lange, C.E. Sphaerularia bombi (Nematoda: Sphaerulariidae) parasitizing Bombus atratus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in southern South America. Parasitol Res 111, 947–950 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-2853-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-2853-6

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