Reesimermis nielseni is a nematode in the family Mermithidae. It is a parasite of the larvae of mosquitoes, spending part of its life cycle in its host's body cavity and part in the water as a free-living worm. It has been investigated as a biological pest control agent to control mosquitoes.[2]

Reesimermis nielseni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Enoplea
Order: Mermithida
Family: Mermithidae
Genus: Reesimermis
Species:
R. nielseni
Binomial name
Reesimermis nielseni
Tsai & Grundmann, 1969[1]

Description

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This nematode grows to an average length of 15 mm (0.6 in); It tends to be longer in larger hosts and shorter when there are several parasites in one host.[2]

Ecology

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Reesimermis nielseni is a parasite of the larvae of mosquitoes. It is known to infect 22 different species of mosquito in the wild and another 33 species in the laboratory.[2]

On emerging from their host larvae, these nematodes fall to the bottom of the water body. They become sexually mature in about sixty days and females lay a total of around 2,500 eggs over a period of eighteen days or so. The eggs hatch after four weeks and each preparasitic larva searches for a suitable host; it will die if it does not find one within seventy-two hours. It bores a hole through the cuticle of the host mosquito larva with a stylet, and develops in its body cavity. When ready to leave the mosquito larva, it bores a larger hole through which it emerges. The mosquito larva does not survive because its body fluids leak out through the hole.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ Tsai, Y.H.; Grundmann, A.W. (1969). "Reesimermis nielseni gen. et sp. n.(Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing mosquitoes in Wyoming". Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington. 36 (1): 61–67.
  2. ^ a b c d National Academy of Sciences (U.S.). Panel on Perspectives in Mosquito-Control Methods Suitable for Developing Countries (1973). Mosquito Control: Some Perspectives for Developing Countries. National Academies. pp. 23–26.
  3. ^ Petersen, J.J. (1975). "Development and Fecundity of Reesimermis nielseni, a Nematode Parasite of Mosquitoes". Journal of Nematology. 7 (3): 211–214. PMC 2620124. PMID 19308158.