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ACTINOCEPHALUS SP., A PROTOZOAN (EUGREGARINIDA: ACTINOCEPHALIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH JUNE BEETLES, PHYLLOPHAGA HARRIS (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

T.J. Poprawski
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Macdonald College of McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 1C0
W.N. Yule
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Macdonald College of McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 1C0

Abstract

Actinocephalus sp., a eugregarine protozoan, is reported from June beetles, Phyllophaga Harris, in southern Quebec. It is the first record of a protozoan infecting scarab beetles in Canada. The gregarine was found in 4.52% of the 16 930 Phyllophaga grubs collected from 45 localities during a 3-year study. The infection was endemic to the grub stage of the scarab beetle and sub-enzootic in grub populations throughout the survey area, never reaching epizootic proportions. Infection rates for other stages of the life cycle of Phyllophaga were insignificant. The study showed that the gregarine had a negligible impact on the population of the host insect.

Résumé

Actinocephalus sp., un protozoaire eugrégarin, est signalé chez les hannetons, Phyllophaga Harris, au Québec méridional. C’est la première mention d’un protozoaire infectant des scarabées au Canada. La grégarine a été trouvée chez 4,52% des 16 930 vers blancs collectionnés dans 45 localités durant 3 années de relevés. L’infection était endémique au stade larvaire du scarabée et sous-enzootique dans les populations de vers blancs à travers la zone de relevés, n’atteignant jamais des dimensions d’épizootie. Les taux d’infection des autres stades de Phyllophaga étaient insignifiants. Cette étude a montré que la grégarine avait un impact négligeable sur la population de l’insecte-hôte.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1992

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