A MICROSPORIDIAN PARASITE OF THE FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR, MALACOSOMA DISSTRIA HBN.

Abstract

The life cycle of a microsporidian parasite of the forest tent caterpillar is described. The microsporidian attacks primarily the silk glands and the mid-gut epithelium but other tissues are also infected. Observations are made on the ejection of the polar filament. It is apparent that the microsporidian is a new species and the name Perezia disstriae n. sp. is proposed.