Sphaerularia vespae
species of worm
Sphaerularia vespae is an endoparasitic nematode that infects the Japanese yellow hornet, Vespa simillima. It invades and resides in the gaster (abdomen) of female hornets where it grows and develops. Because S. vespae sterilizes its host, it is also known as a parasitic castrator. After S. bombi, it is the second recognized species of the genus Sphaerularia.
Diagnosis
Sphaerularia vespae is characterized by the round, finger-like tip tail of females and the conspicuous male bursa. These features are used to distinguish S. vespae from S. bombi. In addition, the square head shape of parasitic juveniles also distinguishes S. vespae from S. bombi, which have a more round, dome-shaped head.
Distribution
S. vespae has been found at several sites in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan (Hitsujigaoka, Mount Moiwa and Shiraikawa Sapporo), and in Nishi-Nopporo, Ebetsu, Hokkaido.
Life cycle
S. vespae has a similar life cycle to that of S. bombi. Juveniles of S. vespae are passed out in the feces of the host and deposited in the soil.
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The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Feb 17, 2024. The linked authority identifier is Q16758745. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
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This entry incorporates text from “Sphaerularia vespae” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.