Coelomomyces Explained

Coelomomyces is the only genus of fungi in the family Coelomomycetaceae. Species in the genus can be used as agents for the biological control of mosquitoes.[1]

Characteristics

Coelomomyces are obligate parasites of mosquitoes and chironomids, meaning that they require their hosts to complete their lifecycle. One species, Coelomomyces psorophorae, is even heteroecious; it requires two completely different hosts as part of its life cycle over the generations, larvae of both the mosquito Culiseta inornata as well as the copepod Cyclops venalis. Due to their lethal nature and host specificity, they have been used by humans for biological control of mosquitoes and other insects.[2]

The mycelium of Coelomomyces spreads among infected mosquito larva. As the larvae disintegrate, the sporangia break free and are released to spread the fungus, sometimes among copepods who will die after nurturing the fungus for a time. The exact path differs from species to species and case to case; sometimes the + and - gametes are present in the same host and can grow there, although they can also fuse outside the host and form a motile zygote that must find susceptible mosquito larvae to complete its life cycle.

Species

Coelomomyces contains the following species:[3]

Notes and References

  1. The Genus Coelomomyces. John Couch,
  2. Book: Sumbali, Geeta . 2005 . The Fungi . Alpha Science . 54 . 1-84265-153-6.
  3. Web site: Coelomomyces - Mycobank. 2016-09-01. /

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