Restudy of Spirura infundibuliformis McLeod, 1933 (Nematoda: Spiruroidea) from Spermophilus richardsonii, with observations on its development in insects

Abstract

A redescription is provided of Spirura infundibuliformis from the stomach of ground squirrels, Spermophilus richardsonii, in southern Alberta, Canada; Spirura leucurusi Babero, 1973 is regarded as a synonym. Spirura infundibuliformis is distinguished from most members of Spirura by the presence of 9–13 pairs of preanal papillae; 20 other species described in the genus have only 4, rarely 5, pairs. Spirura infundibuliformis developed at ambient temperatures (20–30 °C) to the infective stage in 11–12 days in grasshoppers common on the prairies (Melanoplus infantilis, Aeropedellus clavatus, Aulocara elliotti, and Camnula pellucida), where the ground squirrels were collected, as well as in laboratory-reared crickets (Acheta pennsylvanicus).