Ninety three bumble bees belonging to the genus Bombus, subgenus Pyrobombus (three Bombus vagans, seven Bombus bimaculatus, 17 B. sandersoni and 68 B. impatiens) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park were examined for microsporidia. Light microscopy of calcoflour and trichrome-stained smears, and PCR revealed infection with N. bombi in one specimen each of B. sandersoni and B. impatiens. Siz...

Parasitic sex distorters were artificially transferred within and between crustacean host species in order to study the effects of parasitism on host fitness and sex determination and to investigate parasite host specificity. Implantation of Nosema sp. to uninfected strains of its Gammarus duebeni host resulted in an active parasite infection in the gonad of recipient females and subsequent tra...

Across the Northern hemisphere, managed honey bee colonies, Apis mellifera, are currently affected by abrupt depopulation during winter and many factors are suspected to be involved, either alone or in combination. Parasites and pathogens are considered as principal actors, in particular the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, associated viruses and the microsporidian Nosema ceranae. Here we ...

The histochemical activity of aminopeptidase and non-specific esterase, both important enzymes of intermediate metabolism in the mid gut of honeybees (Apis mellifera), was investigated. Nosema disease control poses a major challenge, and thus, the treatment of this serious parasitic disease using natural phyto-pharmacological preparations could be of great besnefit. Additionally, the effects of...

The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a major pest of corn, Zea mays L., in North America, Europe and Asia. Before the introduction of transgenic Bt corn targeting lepidopteran pests, the European corn borer was responsible for over $1 billion in damage and control measures annually in the U.S. alone (Mason et al. 1996). Management of this insect historically ...