Strelkovimermis amphidis n. sp. from chironomid adults emerging from Lake Itasca and Long Lake, Minnesota

Parasitismo por Mermithidae (Nematoda) em larvas do gênero Chironomus gr. decorus (Diptera: Chironomidae) no Rio dos Peixes, Dois Córregos, SP, Brasil

Registramos a incidência de parasitismo por vermes Mermithidae em larvas de Chironomus gr. decorus (Diptera: Chironomidae), no Rio dos Peixes, Dois Córregos, região centro-oeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Neste estudo, de um total de 791 larvas amostradas, 205 (25,9%) estavam infectadas por mermitídeos, indicando que larvas de Chironomidae são comumente parasitadas por vermes mermitídeos.

Strelkovimermis papillosus n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae), a parasite of chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) adults from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota

On 18 August 2002, chironomid imagoes of Rheotanytarsus sp. emerged from the upper Mississippi River in Minnesota and yielded distinctive mermithid nematodes of a new mermithid species. Strelkovimermis papillosus n. sp. is distinguished from the other 14 species of the genus by the presence of unusually large cephalic papillae encircling the mouth and forming a rosette with the mouth in the center and by the absence of a fixator muscle in the males. Additionally, both sexes have very acute posterior ends, long amphids, and a long stoma. Strelkovimermis is revised by eliminating nondiscriminating parameters and accommodating the 15 known species. Intrageneric characteristics useful in separating species of Strelkovimermis are listed. Intensity of infection and intensity of infection versus sex were determined from 41 hosts. Where known, the hosts and geographical distribution are given for all 15 Strelkovimermis species.

Strelkovimermis rubtsovi n. sp. and Strelkovimermis ozawindibi n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) adults eclosing from northern Minnesota glacial lakes

Two new species of Strelkovimermis are described from chironomid imagoes eclosing from northern Minnesota glacial lakes. The 2 species are distinguished from the other 12 species in the genus by terminal mouths, rounded or nippled posterior ends, short buccal funnels, short terminal limbs of the S-shaped vagina, and presence of a bursal sleeve. Strelkovimermis rubtsovi n. sp. is distinguished from S. ozawindibi n. sp. by the presence of a dorsal protractor. Procladius (Psilotanypus) bellus (Loew) is the host of S. rubtsovi. The chironomid host of S. ozawindibi has not been determined. An artificial key is provided to distinguish the 14 species of the genus.