Ophryocystis elektroscirrha is an obligate, neogregarine protozoan that infects monarch (Danaus plexippus) and queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies. There are no other known hosts. The species was first discovered in Florida, around the late 1960s.[1] It has been found in every monarch population in the world. Because of this, it is thought that O. elektroscirrha and monarchs are an example of coevolution.
| Ophryocystis elektroscirrha | |
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| Species: | O. elektroscirrha
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| Ophryocystis elektroscirrha McLaughlin & Myers, 1970
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Dormant spores occur on the cuticles of butterflies, in between the butterfly's scales. They are small, brown or black objects about 1/100th of a butterfly scale.
Life cycle
O. elektroscirrha is usually transmitted from females to their offspring when the females scatter spores on milkweed, the host plant of monarchs and queens, during ovoposition. The spores are then eaten by the larvae while they feed on leaves. Once in the gut, the spores germinate and migrate to the hypoderm, where they undergo two phases of vegetative reproduction. After the caterpillar pupates, O. elektroscirrha starts reproducing sexually. Three days before the adults emerge, spores can be seen through the pupal integument. The adult butterflies emerge covered with spores, mostly on their abdomens. Once the adults emerge, the parasites have already done all the physical damage and they do not continue reproducing.
References
- ^ R. E. McLaughlin & J. Myers (1970). "Ophryocystis elektroscirrha sp. n. a neogregarine pathogen of the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus (L.) and the Florida queen butterfly Danaus gilippus berenice Cramer". Journal of Protozoology. 17: 300–305.