TABLE OF CONTENTS 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



LIST OF TABLES 



LIST OF FIGURES 



ABSTRACT 



CHAPTER 



ONE INTRODUCTION 



TWO GENERAL LITERATURE REVIEW 



Synopsis of the Microsporidia 



Microsporidia Parasitic in Ants 



Solenopsis geminat a , 



THREE GENERAL MATERIALS AND METHODS 



Collection and Maintenance of Colonies 



Temperature and Humidity 



Diet 



Laboratory Propagation of B. dimorpha 

 Harvest of Spores 



FOUR TRANSMISSION AND INFECTIVITY OF SPORES 



OF BURENELLA DIMORPHA 



Materials and Methods 



Results 



Discussion 



FIVE HOST SPECIFICITY OF BURENELLA DIMORPHA 



Materials and Methods 



Results 



Discussion 



SIX ABUNDANCE OF BURENELLA DIMORPHA IN 



NATURE 



Materials and Methods 



Results and Discussion. 



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