Clitellocephalus ophoni (Tuzet et Ormières, 1956) (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Gregarinidae) recorded in Poland on strawberry seed beetle Harpalus (Ophonus) rufipes (De Geer, 1774) (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Abstract

[Clitellocephalus ophoni] (Tuzet et Ormières, 1956) (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Gregarinidae) recorded in Poland on strawberry seed beetle [Harpalus] ([Ophonus]) [rufipes] (De Geer, 1774) (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

The eugregarine [Clitellocephalus ophoni] (Tuzet et Ormières, 1956), originally recorded and described on the strawberry seed beetle [Harpalus] ([Ophonus]) [rufipes] (De Geer, 1774) collected in France, is now reported from the same host insect in Poland. It is a new protozoan species in Polish fauna. Out of 280 adult beetles collected in Poland, 21 were parasitized by gregarines, but only 3 by [C. ophoni]. A morphometric and morphological analysis of [C. ophoni] trophozoites and gamonts found in the digestive tract of host specimens in France and Poland indicated a significant similarity. The prevalence of [C. ophoni] is low (about 1%), but the community of gregarines with prevalence of 8% could be an important factor of environmental resistance.