Venereal worms: Sexually transmitted nematodes in the decorated cricket

The nematode, Mehdinema alii, occurs in the alimentary canal of the decorat ed cricket Gryllodes sigillatus. Adult nematodes occur primarily in the hin dgut of mature male crickets, whereas juvenile nematodes are found in the g enital chambers of mature male and female crickets. Here. we present experi mental evidence for the venereal transmission of M. alii in G. sigillatus. Infectivity experiments were conducted to test for transmission via oral-fe cal contamination, same-sex contact, and copulation. The infective dauers o f the nematode are transferred from male to female crickets during copulati on. Adult female crickets harboring infective dauers subsequently transfer the nematode to their next mates. Thus, M. alii is transmitted sexually dur ing copulation.