Temporal patterns of emergence, calling behaviour and oviposition period of the maize stem borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

Publication Date

11-26-2018

Abstract

The role of population and demographic factors in influencing the transmission and establishment parasites infecting multiple hosts is poorly understood. We assessed the effects of these factors on parasite prevalence in a model system - the intestinal protozoan Crithidia bombi (Trypanosomatidae) infecting a range of bumblebee species (Bombus spp.). We used microsatellite markers and sibship reconstruction to infer genetic diversity and the density of host populations to infer their relative contributions to parasite prevalence. We established the prevalence, type (single- vs. multiple-strain infection) and intensity of C. bombi infections in workers and males of three common bumblebee species (B. terrestris, B. lapidarius and B. pascuorum) at 30 locations across Germany. We found evidence that colony density promoted prevalence, while increased genetic diversity lowered prevalence in B. terrestris. The effect size for genetic diversity was much larger than for colony density. Thus, genetic factors affected the prevalence, while demographic and life-history traits (e.g. population density and seasonal cycle of development) were additional factors shaping the spread and establishment of a multi-host parasite. Bombus lapidarius possessed characteristics that indicate it might act as a reservoir species spreading disease to other species.

Keywords

Bombus, Colony density, Crithidia, Host diversity, Host-parasite interaction, Intensity of infection, Microsatellite, Multiple infections

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