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 Harpellaceae, Stachylina and Harpella, were observed in midguts, and four genera of Legeriomycetaceae-Pennella, Genistellospora, Simuliomyces, and Smittium-in hindguts, with a total of seven species recorded. This is the first published report of Stachylina spp. in blackflies. Field data indicated that sampling date, host species, and location were all important variables affecting trichomycete prevalence in larvae. We report the successful laboratory infection of blackfly larvae with in vitro cultured Smittium simulii, and production of H. melusinae and G. homothallica trichospores from cysts dissected from the ovaries of infected flies.