Life history of Coelomomyces psorophorae.
The mosquito parasite, Coelomomyces psorophorae (Blastocladiales, Chytridiomycetes) alternates obligately between the larvae of Culiseta inornata and the copepod Cyclops vernalis. Isogametes, derived from heterothallic, wall-less gametangia which develop in the copepod, fuse to produce a diploid zygote that subsequently infects the mosquito host. Zoospores from the resistant sporangia which are produced in the haemocoel of the mosquito infect the copepod. A tentative life-history is proposed and implications of these discoveries for the biology, taxonomy, and possible role of Coelomomyces in biological control are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000254:growth & development*; D012098:Reproduction; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development