On the Morphology and Life History of Aproctonema entomophagum Keilin, a Nematode Parasite in the Larvae of Sciara pullula Winn. (Diptera—Nematocera)

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Abstract
1. An account is given of Aproctonema entomophagum Keilin 1917, a Nematode parasite of the larvae of a Mycetophilid fly, Sciara pullula Winn., inhabiting decaying wood.2. The life history of this parasite is remarkable in the following respects:(a) The free-living stage is very short.(b) Both sexes are parasitic.(c) The usual host is the larva of the fly, from which the parasite escapes by actively breaking through the skin; but some parasites may be carried through to the imagines, from which they escape largely by the aid of the egg-laying movements provoked by them in the flies.3. Metamorphosis of the Sciara larva is delayed by the parasitism, so that at least two generations of Nematodes may be found in one host.4. All the parasitised imagines so far examined have been females.5. The systematic position of Aproctonema is discussed, the conclusion being that this worm and its near relative, Tetradonema plicans Cobb 1919, represent two closely allied genera of the family Mermithidae, but are not synonymous with Mermis. It is proposed to dispense with the family Tetra-donematidae Cobb.