ECOLOGY OF MEGALODISCUS-TEMPERATUS (DIGENEA, PARAMPHISTOMATIDAE) IN RED-SPOTTED NEWTS, NOTOPHTHALMUS V. VIRIDESCENS, FROM WEST-VIRGINIA

One hundred twenty-four red-spotted newts (55 females and 69 males) we re collected from a marsh in western West Virginia throughout 1995. Th e large intestines of these salamanders were examined for the amphisto me Megalodiscus temperatus. Prevalence of infection at 63.6% for femal e newts and 47.8% for males was not significantly different (chi(2) = 2.48, P > 0.05). Mean intensities of 5.6 and 3.5 were recorded for fem ale and male newts, respectively, and the difference between those mea ns was significantly different (Mann-Whitney Li = 780, P < 0.05). Numb ers of amphistomes were positively correlated with host weight. Mean a dult worm length was negatively correlated with numbers of individuals in a host. Megalodiscus temperatus adults were smallest in the May/Ju ne collection period and attained their maximum lengths in October and December. May/June appeared to be the primary recruitment period beca use of the high proportion of juveniles and small size of adult forms.