Spiroplasmas in the Tabanidae
Clark, T.B.; Peterson, B.V.; Whitcomb, R.F.; Henegar, R.B.; Hackett, K.J.; Tully, J.G.
Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 20(10): 1002-1005
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2180 PMID: 6511308 Document Number: 222973
Of 7 species of Tabanidae collected in Maryland or North Carolina, non-cultivable spiroplasmas were seen in the haemolymph of adult females of Tabanus sulcifrons, T. calens and T. trimaculatus, and cultivable forms were isolated from the guts of a male of T. catenatus and females of T. sulcifrons, T. calens, T. nigrovittatus, Hybomitra lasiophthalma and Chrysops sp. Isolates from T. calens and T. sulcifrons were serologically similar and closely related to a spiroplasma in the lampyrid Ellychnia corrusca. These 3 isolates represented a new serogroup. Isolates from H. lasiophthalma were related to Group IV strains, while those from T. nigrovittatus and Chrysops sp. both represented new serogroups. At least some tabanids probably acquire spiroplasmas from contaminated flower surfaces.