User:LanceJAndrew/Mermithidae

Association with Iridescent Viruses
Mermithids have been found to be associated with iridescent viruses in several arthropod species. Strelkomermis spiculatus have been found to transmit an iridescent virus in the mosquito species Culex pipiens, Culex apinicus, and Aedes aegypti '''. Isopod iridescent virus has been found associated with Thaumamermis cosgrovei in the isopod species Porcellio scaber and Armadillidium vulgare. An unidentified iridescent virus has been found in the fly species Culicoides variipennis sonorensis in association with Heleidomermis magnapapula infections. In all three instances, iridescent viral infections occured at a much higher rate in mermithid-parasitized individuals   . However, in the case of the interaction between C. v. sonorensis, H. magnapapula, and their iridescent virus, the virus appears to kill both host and parasite before they reach maturity, impairing the mermithid's biological control of C. v. sonorensis .'''