Entomophthora muscae Resting Spore Formation in Vivo in the Host Delia radicum

The formation in vivo of Entomophthora muscae resting spores was investigated in the host, Delia radicum (cabbage root fly), by analysis of field data on the seasonal occurrence of E. muscae resting spores over 4 years. E. muscae resting spores in D. radicum were spherical with an average diameter of 39.4 μm, and the average numbers produced were estimated at 5.7 × 104 resting spores/female cadaver. Resting spores were found only after midsummer in D. radicum and almost exclusively in females. The proportion of infected females with resting spores was negatively correlated with average weekly day length after midsummer. We did not detect any significant year effect; thus, the results support the hypothesis that the photoperiod is the most important abiotic factor controlling E. muscae resting spore formation in D. radicum.