DISTANCE OF CONIDIAL DISCHARGE OF ENTOMOPHTHORA-MUSCAE AND ENTOMOPHTHORA-SCHIZOPHORAE (ZYGOMYCOTINA, ENTOMOPHTHORALES)

The distance traveled by conidia of the E. muscae species complex from cadavers of Musca domestica was measured. Laboratory strains of E. mu scae and E. schizophorae, as well as a field-collected strain of E. mu scae, were compared in darkness under still air conditions at 21 degre es C. Most conidia were discharged <3.75 cm from the cadaver, with a r ange of 0 to 8.75 cm. When a fly cadaver was affixed to a vertical sur face (normal death orientation), conidia discharged from the dorsum of the abdomen traveled further than conidia discharged from the lateral regions. Cadavers suspended in midair discharged similar numbers of l aboratory strain E. muscae conidia similar distances from the venter, dorsum, or lateral abdomen. This suggested a boundary layer effect cau sed the reduced lateral discharge distance in earlier trials. Average discharge distance was positively related to cadaver size. A laborator y strain of E. muscae discharged conidia further than did a field stra in of E. muscae and a laboratory strain off. schizophorae. (C) 1996 ac ademic Press, Inc.