Romanomermis		Contents		Rev: 10/23/2024
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Romanomermis Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Mermithidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

A genus of parasites of mosquito larvae in aquatic environments; inportant in biological control of the host.

    Synonyms:
     

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Morphology and Anatomy:

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Distribution:

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Feeding:

Endoparasitic in insect (mosquito) larvae .Nutrient uptake from the insect hemolymph is through a very thin cuticle, perhaps enhanced by narrow diameter pores. Interestingly, the epidermal cells adjacent to the cuticle have their absorptive surface area increased buy outwardly directed microvilli (Poinar and Hess, 1977; Munn and Munn, 2002).

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Biology and Ecology:

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Life Cycle:

• In Romanomermis culicivorax, the preparasitic larva is equipped with a stylet which allows penetration through the cuticle of the mosquito larva host.

• The stylet is lost in subsequent larval stages and the stichosome separates from the intestine, which becomes a trophosome with no anal opening to the exterior.

• Nutrient uptake from the insect hemolymph is through a very thin cuticle, perhaps enhanced by narrow diameter pores. Interestingly, the epidermal cells adjacent to the cuticle have their absorptive surface area increased buy outwardly directed microvilli (Poinar and Hess, 1977; Munn and Munn, 2002).

• The continued role of the stichosome is unclear although it appears to be involved in protein synthesis (Poinar, 1983).

• The nematode larva undergoes one molt in the insect host and then ruptures the body wall as it emerges.

• After a final molt to the adult stage, the female deposits eggs.

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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

Population regulation of mosquitus and other host species.

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Management:

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References:

De Ley, P. and Blaxter, M. 2002. Systematic position and phylogeny. Pp 1-30 in Lee, D.L. (ed.). The Biology of Nematodes. Taylor and Francis, London and NY. 635p.

Ferris, H. 2007. Stichosomida. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology. http://accesscience.com/abstract.aspx

Lee, D.L. 2002. Life cycles. Pp 61-72 in Lee, D.L. (ed.). The Biology of Nematodes.Taylor and Francis, London and NY. 635p.

Munn, E.A and Munn, P.D. 2002. Feeding and digestion. Pp 211-232 in Lee, D.L. (ed.).The Biology of Nematodes. Taylor and Francis, London and NY. 635p.

Poinar, G.O. and Hess, R. 1977. Romanomermis culicivorax: morphological evidence of transcuticular uptake. Experimental Parasitology 42:27-33.

Poinar, G.O. 1983. The Natural History of Nematodes. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs.
323p.

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Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
Revised: October 23, 2024.