A Record of Microsporidian Pathogen of the European wasp, Vespula vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Turkey
Abstract
Microsporidia are common enigmatic pathogens of hymenopterans. Although these species are more concerned with Apidae (especially honeybees), they are also known to infect members of Vespidae. Apart from these species, many defined and undefined microsporidia infections were detected infecting Vespidae individuals in the literature. Especially Vespula vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) infected different microsporidian species like a Nosema bombi, Vavraia culicis, Nosema vespula, etc. Molecular identification-based microsporidian records in predator species such as V. vulgaris are highly suspicious. In such predator insects, microsporidian infections should be supported by characteristic visuals of the pathogen’s life cycle. With this perspective this study is the first and only study that presents the life-cycle stages and spore morphometrics data of a microsporidium isolated from V. vulgaris. V. vulgaris samples were collected from July to September 2021 in Trabzon, Turkey. During the observations, 415 samples were examined, and five of them were infection positive (microsporidiosis prevalence 1.20%). Infection was found mostly in the midgut of the host, and infection was mostly chronic. Fresh mature spores were oval in shape and measured 4.57±0.54 (3.26–5.95; n=200) µm in length and 2.43±0.33 (1.43–3.35; n=200) µm in width. The current microsporidium has a Nosema-like disporoblastic merogony and sporogony.
Keywords
Hymenoptera, microsporidium, Nosema, pathogen, wasp, Vespula vulgaris
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