Infektionen durch Rickettsiella melolonthae (Krieg) Philip bei Larven von Amphimallon solstitiale (Linnaeus), Anomala dubia aenea (De Geer), A. (Phyllopertha) horticola (Linnaeus), Maladera (Serica) brunnea (Linnaeus) und Onthophagus spec. (Coleoptera: Lamellicornia).

Abstract

Forestal and agricultural areas of South-West Germany, infested with larvae of Melolontha melolontha (L.) and M. hippocastani F., showed generally low and occasionally higher numbers of the following accompanying Lamellicornia species: Amphimallon solstitiale (L.), Anomala dubia aenea (Deg.), A. (Phyllopertha) horticola (L.), Maladera (Serica) brunnea (L.) and Onthophagus sp. They all were reared in the laboratory and specially investigated for natural infection by Rickettsiella melolonthae (Krieg) Philip, an important mortality factor among Melolonthae-larvae in the forest of Lorsch. This infection occured naturally in A. solstitiale, A.(P.) horticola and M. (S.) brunnea. Laboratory experiments confirmed the infectivity of R. melolonthae for the mentioned species and included also A. dubia aenea and Onthophagus sp., species of which no natural infestation was known before. The larvae were only naturally infested in areas where the disease occured among the Melolontha-larvae. It probably spread from dead animals of the main species in the soil to larvae of the accompanying lamellicorns.