Life Sciences Commons^™

Blood Parasites Of Squirrels From Coles And Lake Counties In Illinois, Nicholas I. Obiri

Masters Theses

Hepatozoon and microfilariae are described from the blood of fox and gray squirrels captured in Coles and Lake Counties in Illinois during 1976 and 1977. The hepatozoon species is identified as Hepatozoon griseisciuri on the basis of parasite morphology and hosts. A higher rate of infection (35.7% : 11.1%) was observed in gray squirrels than in fox squirrels and more adults were infected than juveniles. No microfilariae were found in gray squirrels but fox squirrels had a 57.1% infection rate with no difference based on age. The observed microfilariae are similar to that described by Davidson from Maryland gray squirrels …

Interrelationships Of Hypera Postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) And Bathyplectes Curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) In Illinois With Emphasis On Host-Parasite Densities, Distribution Of Parasites Within Available Hosts And Estimates Of Percent Parasitism, Robert John Barney

Masters Theses

In an attempt to better understand the host-parasite relationship of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), all life stages of the parasite were monitored throughout the spring. Sampling was conducted on a degree day basis from early March to late May in an alfalfa field in Mason County, Illinois.

Dissections of host alfalfa weevil larvae revealed 2nd and 3rd host instars were preferred larvae for oviposition. Peak parasite densities were found to precede peak total host larval densities, but coincided with peak densities of the preferred 2nd and 3rd instars. Larger host …