Isomermis lairdi

 

Contents

 

Rev 09/10/2026

  Classification Hosts
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Isomermis Menu Economic Importance Damage
Distribution Management
Return to Mermithidae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Enoplea
Dorylaimia
      Mermithida
Mermithina
Mermithoidea
Mermithidae

Isomermis lairdi Mondet, Poinar &  Brnadou, 1977

 

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Morphology and Anatomy:

Female:

Male:

Ref: Gradinarov, 2014.

Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:

 

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Distribution:

Isomermis lairdi was described from larvae of black flies (Simuliidae) in Western Africa, and is also reported from Bulgaria (Gradinarov, 2014).

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Feeding:

 

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Biology and Ecology:

 

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Life Cycle:

As the nematodes mature in the host nymph, they become oriented longitudinally in the abdominal and thoracic regions of the host. They can be seen with the naked eye during the late stages of parasitic development. The nematodes emerge from the hosts in the regions of the anus or mouth, usually killing the host (Rusconi et al., 2020). The emerge from thwe host as post-parasitic juveniles with similar dimensions as the adults.  They molt to the adult stages which mate and lay eggs or release juveniles into sedimentl at the bottom of a shallow water body

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters
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Ecosystem Functions and Services:

Biological regulation of black flies

 

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Management:

 

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References:

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

Gradinarov, D. 2014. The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe. Zookeys 2014 Nov 12;(454):1–11. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.454.7577

Mondet, B., Poinar, G.O. Jr,, Bernadou, J. 1977.  Etude du parasitisme des simulies (Diptera: Simuliidae) par des Mermithidae (Nematoda) en Afrique de l’ouest. IV: Description de Isomermis lairdi, n. sp., parasite de Simulium damnosum. Canadian Journal of Zoology 55: 2011-2017. doi: 10.1139/z77-261

Rusconi, J.M., Di Battista, C., Balcazar, D., Rosales, M., Achinelly, M.F. 2020. Amphimermis enzoni n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing damselflies and dragonflies in Argentina. J. Nematology DOI: 10.21307/jofnem-2020-051

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Revised by Howard Ferris: September 10, 2026.