Two new species of the genus Quadruspinospora Sarkar et Chakravarty, 1969 (Apicomplexa, Conoidasida) from grasshoppers (Insecta, Orthoptera)

Descriptions of structures and life histories of two new species of septate gregarines (Apicomplexa, Conoidasida) are given. These are: Quadruspinospora cloptoni sp. nov. and Quadruspinospora caudata sp. nov. from the midguts of Oxya hyla hyla Serville and Gesonula punctiformes (Stal.) (Insecta, Orthoptera, Acrididae), respectively. Trophozoites of Q. cloptoni attain a maximum length of 944 μm and their epimerites are either a simple knob or cauliflower-like without any digitiform process; gamonts are solitary and, spherical gametocysts, 390 μm, release ovoid oocysts by a simple rupture, the latter being provided with four characteristic spines, two at each pole. Trophozoites of Q. caudata are much smaller, 578 μm in maximum length, and the epimerite in this gregarine is short and cone like. Spherical gametocysts, 365 μm, also dehisce by a simple rupture releasing ovoid oocysts having four typical spines, characteristic of the genus Quadruspinospora Sarkar et Chakravarty, 1969. The validity of Quadruspinospora as a distinct genus is discussed.

Pathogenic Protozoans of Grasshopper from Imphal, Manipur, India

Septate gregarines or Cephaline gregarines are a group of parasitic protozoans of Grasshopper. Eugregarines are the most common; these species inhabit the midgut though rarely pathogenic in the mid-gut, they have been reported to block the gut of the host. Those inhabiting the gastric caeca cause serious pathologies than the midgut-inhabiting species. Some of the best known genera found in Manipur are Gregarina, Phleobum, Didymophyes, Amphiplatyspora, Lepismatophila, Quadruspinospora and Quadruknobspora. The study reports the morphological details of 16species of the above genera collected from Imphal. Illustrative diagrams and photomicrographs are provided for better species identification.

On the Gregarine, Lankesteria culicis (Ross), in the Mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse

My observations on Lankesteria culicis, as it appears in Aedes albopictus in Calcutta, show that the trophozoites are intracellular in the anterior and extracellular in the posterior regions of the mid-gut, with epimerite rudimentary in the former and well developed in the latter condition. Full-grown forms measure 150–200 × 31–41μ. Association is lateral. Sporocysts measure about 10 × 6μ and are broadly spindle-shaped with slightly flattened ends, with a-residual body situated more toward one pole than the other.Septate eugregarines in general, excepting the Stenophoridae Léger and Duboscq, grow extracellularly with the epimerite attached to the host cell. Therefore, judging from the foregoing description, we are no longer justified in retaining Lankesteria culicis among the Haplocyte gregarines (Acephalina) and in the family Diplocystidae Bhatia (1930). The presence of a well-developed epimerite and what I consider to be a rudimentary protomerite, clearly distinguish it from any of the Acephalina. Its place should be among the septate gregarines (Cephalina), and perhaps a new genus may have to be erected to receive it there.