Prevalence of Sphaerularia bombi (Nematoda: Tylenchida: Sphaerulariidae) in bumble bee queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

摘要

S. bombi is an internal nematode parasite of bumble bee queens in North America and Europe. Infection functionally castrates the bee. Here the prevalence and intensity of S. bombi infections in 7 species of Bombus and 3 species of Psithyrus on CapeBreton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada is documented. Dramatic variation was found in prevalences among Bombus spp., and some evidence that prevalence increased as the nesting season progressed. Also, it is reported S. bombi in the bumble bee nest parasite Psithyrus insularis, the first record for the genus in North America.