Infection of Bracon mellitor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) by Mattesia grandis (Protozoa: Neogregarinida)1

Abstract

The neogregarine Mattesia grandis McLaughlin infected larvae and adults of Bracon mellitor Say, a parasite of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman. The larvae of B. mellitor became infected by feeding on infected larvae of the boll weevil, and data suggested that any stage of M. grandis present in the host was infective. Adults of B. mellitor became infected by ingesting spores of M. grandis. Healthy adult parasites did not transmit the pathogen to larvae of the boll weevil or to progeny after stinging a diseased boll weevil larva, and diseased adult parasites did not transmit M. grandis to larvae of the boll weevil. Only 1 of 49 progeny of B. mellitor produced by diseased parents was infected.