Determination of microsporidium pathogen distribution in the mass-rearing laboratories of Calosoma sycophanta L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

In this study, it is aimed to determine the distribution of microsporidium pathogen in Calosoma sycophanta L. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in mass-rearing laboratories. For this purpose, the samples were collected from 10 different localities and 16 different laboratories most engaged in production between 2015-2017 in Turkey. A total of 6003 C. sycophanta adults were dissected and the presence of microsporidium pathogen was investigated. 266 of the dissected insects were infected and the infection rate was determined as 4.43%. In addition, up to 6.8% in İzmir, 29.2% in Antalya, 30.2% in Balikesir and 35.2% in Mersin infection rates were detected. In total 80 dissected larvae, no microsporidium infection was found. The total infection rate was determined as 2% in 2015, 3.85% in 2016 and 5.7% in 2017 and it was observed that the infection shows increase per year investigated. The difference of the infection rates in male and female beetles was also studied. In total, 24 of 963 male individuals were infection and 41 of 1370 female individuals were infected by the pathogen and the infection rate was 2.49% in male and 2.99% in female beetles. Spores of the disease factor was examined in detail using a light microscope and measurements were made. In this thesis, the distribution of microsporidium pathogen that causes disease in Calosoma sycophanta is given for the first time for literature.