AN INVESTIGATION OF HARPELLALES (TRICHOMYCETES) IN NEW-YORK-STATE BLACKFLIES (DIPTERA, SIMULIIDAE)

This research project investigates the distribution and prevalence of trichomycete fungi present in blackfly larvae and adults in the region of Cambridge, New York. In blackfly larvae, two genera of Harpellacea e, Stachylina and Harpella, were observed in midguts, and four genera of Legeriomycetaceae-Pennella, Genistellospora, Simuliomyces, and Smit tium-in hindguts, with a total of seven species recorded. This is the first published report of Stachylina spp. in blackflies. Field data in dicated that sampling date, host species, and location were all import ant variables affecting trichomycete prevalence in larvae. We report t he successful laboratory infection of blackfly larvae with in vitro cu ltured Smittium simulii, and production of H. melusinae and G. homotha llica trichospores from cysts dissected from the ovaries of infected f lies. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.