ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY OF NOSEMA-ACRIDOPHAGUS HENRY (MICROSPORA, NOSEMATIDAE) FROM A GRASSHOPPER

Nosema acridophagus in the fat body of the grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes was investigated by electron microscopy. The stages observed were diplocaryotic throughout most of the life cycle and developed in direct contact with the host cytoplasm. The meront plasmalemma was covered by a layer of tubular elements that transversely encircled the parasite. These tubular elements were not evident when a homogeneous electron-dense exospore layer was deposited on the meront plasmalemma surface. Spores sectioned longitudinally were diplocaryotic, with an isofilar polar tube with 10 12 coils being observed in a single row.