title: Development and fecundity of Reesimermis nielseni, a nematode parasite of mosquitoes.
abstract: Maturation of the mermithid nematode Reesimermis nielseni to the adult stage began by the tenth day after emergence of the nematodes from their hosts at ambient temperatures (24-27 C). Most postparasitic males and females reached the adult stage after 50 and 70 days, respectively. The first females exhibiting egg development and oviposition were observed 25-30 days after emergence, but some oviposition was still taking place 150 days later. Reesimermis nielseni laid an average 2,480 eggs per female over an 18-day oviposition period. A majority of the mature eggs hatched within 7 h after the cultures were flooded. The preparasites are short-lived, and only a few were able to infect exposed hosts after 72 h.
authors.affiliation: Agric. Res. Serv., U. S. Department of Agriculture, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Petersen