Infection Rate of Two Parasites Found in Leprus Wheeleri Captured in The Northern Chihuahuan Desert – International Journal of Scientific and Management Research

**Infection Rate of Two Parasites Found in Leprus Wheeleri Captured in The Northern Chihuahuan Desert**

Niccole D. Rech*¹, JuanCarlos Amaya², Kristy Figueroa², Sergio Nephtali Flores-Quintana,² Leo Robledo², & Kayci Speer²
¹Western New Mexico University
²Early College High School, Deming New Mexico, Mexico
DOI – http://doi.org/10.37502/IJSMR.2024.7802

Full Text

Abstract

During the summer of 2023, seventy-nine Leprus wheeleri (Thomas) grasshoppers were captured in a 5-hectare section of the Northern Chihuahua Desert. Grasshoppers are important to the ecosystem for several reasons. First, they add a significant amount of biomass to a region. Secondly, they enrich the soil by facilitating the breakdown of organic nutrients. And third, they stimulate plant growth. However, they can also be a detriment to agricultural crops when their population numbers exceed the carrying capacity of the region. There are usually checks and balances in nature. Several parasites infect Leprus wheeleri populations. Among them are nematodes, mites, and bacteria. Our study examines the percentage of Leprus wheeleri captured that were infected with the mite Eutrombidium locustarum (Walsh, 1866) and an alpha proteo-bacterium Wolbachia pipientis (Hertig, 1936). Eutrombidium locustarum is a microparasite and Wolbachia pipientis is an endosymbiont, that is sometimes mutualistic with its hosts. Wolbachia was identified by targeting the 16S rDNA gene of the small unit of the bacterial ribosome. Insect DNA was identified by targeting the Cytochrome C Oxidase gene. DNA was extracted from the grasshoppers through a 24-step process, then amplified by PCR, and finally identified by running an electrophoresis gel. Wolbachia DNA is visible at 438 base pairs (bp), and insect DNA is visible at 709 bp. Eutrombidium locustarum was identified by examination under a dissecting microscope. The mites were located on the wings, head, neck, and legs. The mites were also tested for Wolbachia. Eutrombidium locustarum DNA is also visible at 709 bp.

Keywords: Leprus wheeleri, Eutrombidium locustarum, Wolbachia pipientis, Chihuahua Desert.

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