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Mermithidae
Family of roundworms / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mermithidae is a family of nematode worms that are endoparasites in arthropods. As early as 1877, Mermithidae was listed as one of nine subdivisions of the Nematoidea.[2] Mermithidae are confused with the horsehair worms of the phylum Nematomorpha that have a similar life history and appearance.
Mermithidae | |
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Mermithid from Asian hornet | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Nematoda |
Class: | Enoplea |
Order: | Mermithida |
Family: | Mermithidae Braun, 1883[1] |
Mermithids are parasites, mainly of arthropods. Most are known from insects, but some are recorded from spiders, scorpions and crustaceans. A few are known to parasitize earthworms, leeches and molluscs,[3] and a specimen is known from a spider preserved in Baltic amber.[4]
At least 25 species are known to parasitize mosquito larvae, making them of considerable interest in biological control.[5][6] A species, probably Pheromermis vesparum, was recorded from the invasive Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in France. The parasite was considered to be a member of the local fauna which had adapted to a new host. However, the authors concluded that the mermithid could not hamper the hornet invasion nor be used in biological control programs against this invasive species.[7]