RELATION OF INSECTS TO THE PARASITIC WORMS 79 



gordius varius (a common American species), Paragordius tricuspidatus^ 

 Parachordodes tolusanus, Parachordodes violaceus, Parachordodes pus- 

 tulosus, and Chordodes alpestris. 



ACAXTHOCEPHALA OR TIIORX-HEADED WORMS 



This highly specialized group of parasites, commonly classified in the 

 Nematlielminthes, with which it has little in common beyond a superficial 

 resemblance in the general shape of the body, has been but little studied. 

 Most of the known species are parasitic in birds. 



Macrae anthorhyncluis liirudinaceus (Pallas, 1781) Travassos, 1916 



This worm in the adult stage (sometimes called the giant thorn- 

 headed worm) is a common parasite of the intestine of the pig and is said 

 to occur as a parasite of man along the River Volga. Its eggs pass out 

 of the body of the host in the feces. Swallowed by certain insects [larvae 

 of Melolontha melolontha, Cefonia aurata, Pliyllophaga arcuata {Lach- 

 nosterna), and DUoboderus ahderibs^ the eggs hatch, and the larvae 

 develop into an intermediate stage, which in turn completes its develop- 

 ment to maturity when the infested grub is eaten by a pig. 



Moniliformis moniliformis (Bremser, 1819) Travassos, 1915 



This parasite in its adult stage (sometimes called the beaded thorn- 

 headed worm) is of common occurrence in the intestine of rats and other 

 rodents in tropical and subtropical regions, and has been f(jund in man 

 in Italy. The life cycle is similar to that of the giant thorn-headed worm 

 except for the diff'erence in hosts. According to Grassi and Calandruccio 

 (1888), Blaps mucronata acts as an intermediate host. According to 

 Magalhaes (1898) and Seurat (1912), the usual intermediate host is a 

 cockroach (Periplaneta americana). 



COMPENDIUM OF PARASITES ARRANGED ACCORDING TO INSECT HOSTS ^ 



Aphaniptera (SipJionaptera) — fleas 



Ceratophyllus fasciatus Bosc 

 Hymenolepis diminuta 

 ? Hymenolepis nana 



Ctenocephalus canis Curtis 



? Aca/nthocheilonema reconditum 

 'The scientific names of the insects have been revised bv the editor. 



