Parasitization of a huntsman spider (Arachnida: Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropoda venatoria) by a mermithid nematode (Nematoda: Mermithidae)

Main Article Content

Sachin P. Ranade
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3627-4682
Vibhu Prakash
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6198-4902

Abstract

The emergence of a mermithid worm from a huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria was witnessed at Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal.  It appears to be a first record of the spider family Sparassidae serving as a host for a member of the family Mermithidae. 

Article Details

Section
Notes
Author Biography

Sachin P. Ranade, Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre, Raja Bhat Khawa, (BTR), Alipurduar, Alipurduar District, West Bengal 735227, India

Scientist C & Assistant Director

References

Harvey, M.S. (1981). A parasitic nematode (Mermithidae) from the pseudoscorpion “Sternophorus†hirsti Chamberlin (Sternophoridae).The Journal of Arachnology 10: 192.

Penney, D. & S.P. Bennett (2006). First unequivocal mermithid–linyphiid (Araneae) parasite-host association. The Journal of Arachnology 34: 273–278.

Platnick, N.I. (2015). World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, version 16.5, accessed on 03 October 2015.

Pocock, R.I. (1900). The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma - Arachnida. Taylor and Francis, London, 279pp.

Poinar Jr., G.O. (1985). Mermithid (Nematoda) parasites of spiders and harvestmen. The Journal of Arachnology 13: 121–128.

Poinar Jr., G.O. (1987). Nematode parasites of spiders, pp. 299–308. In: Nentwig, W. (ed.). Ecophysiology of Spiders. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany.

Soulsby, E.J.L. (1982). Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals. 7th Edition. Elsevier, London.

Villemant, C., D. Zuccon, Q. Rome, F. Muller, G.O. Poinar Jr. & J.L. Justine (2015). Can parasites halt the invader? Mermithid nematodes parasitizing the yellow-legged Asian hornet in France. PeerJ 3: e947; http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.947