First record of the insect pathogenic alga Helicosporidium sp (Chlorophyta: Trebouxiophyceae) infection in larvae and pupae of Rhizophagus grandis Gyll. (Coleoptera, Rhizophaginae) from Turkey

Abstract

The predator beetle Rhizophagus grandis Gyll. (Coleoptera, Rhizophaginae) is one of the most important biological control agents, mass-bred and used to suppress populations of an important pest: the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans. The achlorophyllous alga Helicosporidium sp. was first discovered in the pest. Later it was also found in the predator, but only in the adults. In this study, the pathogenic alga Helicosporidium sp. was discovered in larvae and early pupae of R. grandis for the first time. The morphological characteristics of the pathogenic alga were revealed by light and electron microscopy. Infection rates of Helicosporidium sp. in the larvae and pupae of R. grandis were 23.5% and 6.25%, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.