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Apheloria virginiensis corrugata killed by Arthrophaga myraipodina K.T. Hodge & A.E. Hajek, in Hodge, Hajek & Gryganskyi, 2017 |
Highlights:
• Arthrophaga myriapodina is a new genus and species of fungus pathogenic to millipedes in the eastern USA.
• Infected millipedes climb before dying, then fungal spores are forcibly shot from cadavers.
• Arthrophaga myriapodina is the first known pathogen of millipedes in the order Entomophthorales.
Abstract
A new species and genus of entomophthoralean fungus, Arthrophaga myriapodina kills polydesmid millipedes. This species was first seen over a century ago but never described. It is the first millipede pathogen known from the order Entomophthorales, species of which are best known as pathogens of a wide diversity of insects. The fungus induces pre-death climbing behavior in its hosts, enabling the fungus to broadcast its forcibly-discharged conidia from a high vantage, which presumably increases the fitness of the fungus. Study of herbarium specimens and photographic discoveries on the internet suggest the fungus occurs widely in eastern North America.
Keywords: Entomophthorales, Apheloria, Myriapoda, Pathogen, Behavioral manipulation
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| A millipede (Apheloria virginiensis corrugata) killed by Arthrophaga myraipodina. |
Arthrophaga K.T. Hodge & A.E. Hajek, gen. nov. (MB 822065)
Arthrophaga myriapodina K.T. Hodge & A.E. Hajek, sp. nov. (MB 822067)
Hosts: Three host millipedes are so far known. They belong to sister tribes in Myriapoda: Polydesmidae: Apheloria virginiensis corrugata in tribe Apheloriini; Nannaria sp. in tribe Nannariini; and Boraria infesta in tribe Rhysodesmini.
Kathie T. Hodge, Ann E. Hajek and Andrii Gryganskyi. 2017. The first entomophthoralean killing Millipedes, Arthrophaga myriapodina n. gen. n. sp., causes climbing before host death. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 149; 135-140. DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2017.08.011
