Formation and germination of resting spores from different strains from the Entomophthora muscae complex produced in Musca domestica

Abstract

Three species within the Entomophthora muscae (Cohn) Fresenius complex (Entomophthora schizophorae Keller & Wilding, E. muscae s.str., and E. muscae "group B") were investigated for resting spore formation in vivo in the house fly (Musca domestica L.). Resting spores of E. muscae group B were experimentally induced from August to the beginning of February, while no resting spores were ever observed in E. schizophorae infected M. domestica or in flies infected by E. muscae s.str. originating from M. domestica. When newly dead fly cadavers containing E. muscae group B resting spores were kept moist, cystidia emerged from the abdomen; this is the first report of cystidia in the genus Entomophthora. Resting spore production was significantly affected by both temperature and E. muscae group B strain. More infected flies formed resting spores when kept 1 week at 10°C compared with constant exposure at 22°C, but the tendency of the different E. muscae group B strains to form resting spores persisted with shifting temperatures. After 4 months of incubation under natural winter conditions in Denmark, E. muscae group B resting spores germinated on water agar at 20°C with a 16 h light : 8 h dark photoperiod within 1 week, but no germ conidia were observed.Key words: Entomophthorales, Entomophthora muscae complex, Diptera, Musca domestica, resting spore formation, resting spore germination.