Romanomermis culicivorax

Romanomermis culicivorax	Contents	Rev 11/29/2023
	Classification	Hosts
	Morphology and Anatomy	Life Cycle
Return to Romanomermis Menu	Economic Importance	Damage
	Distribution	Management
Return to Mermithidae Menu	Feeding	References
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Classification:

Enoplea

Dorylaimia
Mermithida

Mermithina: Mermithoidea; Mermithidae; Romanomermis culicivorax Ross & Smith 1976

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

Morphology and Anatomy:

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

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.

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:

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?id=757377&referURL=http%3a%2f%2faccesscience.com%2fcontent.aspx%3fid%3d757377

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.