Nematode parasitism in a Danish drosophilid community: further evaluation of the disproportionate parasitism hypothesis

The nematodes Parasitylenchus diplogenus and Howardula aoronymphium (Allantonematidae) are parasites of drosophilids (Diptera). Nematodes were found in 3/14 drosophilid species sampled in Danish woodlands: Drosophila phalerata Meigen (3.5% parasitism) was parasitized by H. aoronymphium and D. obscura Fallén (0.5%) and D. subobscura Collin (2.1%) by P. diplogenus. Parasitism was generally rare, and few drosophilid species parasitized, compared to elsewhere in Europe. Parasitism was positively correlated with relative host abundance both within Denmark and across communities, suggesting that species diversity is promoted by a disproportionately high parasitism of more common host species. The prevalence of H. aoronymphium, but not P. diplogenus, parasitism is positively related to temperature across communities.