A Record of Microsporidian Pathogen of the European wasp, Vespula vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Turkey

Abstract

This study detected a new microsporidium which is a pathogen of the European wasp, Vespula vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). V. vulgaris individuals were collected from July to September 2021 in Trabzon, Turkey. During the observations, 415 samples were examined, and five of them were infection positive (microsporidiosis prevalence 1.20%). Infection was found mostly in the midgut of the host, and infection was mostly chronic. Fresh mature spores were oval in shape and measured 4.57 ± 0.54 (3.26–5.95; n = 200) µm in length and 2.43 ± 0.33 (1.43–3.35; n = 200) µm in width. The current microsporidium has a Nosema-like disporoblastic merogony and sporogony.