Survival of the first-stage larvae and infective larvae of Bunostomum trigonocephalum Rudolphi, 1808

Abstract

The free-living larval stages of Bunostomum trigonocephalum are better adapted to low temperatures than high temperatures. Most survived at 10°C.In tap water, 1st-stage larvae survived for 11 days at 0°C, 17 days at 5°C, 20 days at 10°C, 15 days at 15°C, 18 days at 20°C, 15 days at 25°C, 9 days at 30°C, 7 days at 34°C, 4 days at 35°C, 16 h at 40°C, 40 min at 45°C and 20 min at 50°C.In tap water infective larvae survived for 40 days at 0°C, 70 days at 5°C, 100 days at 10 and 15°C. 65 days at 20°C, 48 days at 25°C, 38 days at 30°C, 14 days at 34°C, 6 days at 35°C, 5 days at 40°C, 3 h at 45°C and 105 min at 50°C.In tap water at room temperature infective larvae survived for 26 days in January, 20 days in February, 21 days in March, 13 days in April, 10 days in May, 6 days in June, 9 days in July and August, 11 days in September, 12 days in October, 14 days in November and 17 days in December.I thank Professor M. B. Lal for his interest and for providing laboratory facilities in the Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow; Dr Premvati for guidance; and the Scientific Research Committee, U.P., India, for financial help.