Foraging Efficacy of a Larval Parasitoid in a Cotton Patch: Influence of Chemical Cues and Learning

Plant-herbivore chemical signals and behavioral plasticity may enhance parasitoid host-foraging efficacy in the field; however, no studies have quantified the potential benefits from these factors under field-type conditions. The effect of plant-herbivore signals and learning on the foraging efficacy of Microplitis croceipes was quantified by directly observing and recording total and sequential duration of various foraging behaviors relative to 5 randomly placed herbivore-damaged and host-infested cotton plants and 20 undamaged and non-host-infested plants. Microplitis croceipes spent significantly more time searching (flying and antennation) on host infested versus uninfested plants. Antennation time was significantly and negatively correlated with successive host stings. Contrary to expectations of increased duration, flight time remained constant throughout the foraging bout, which may indicate that there was some learning associated with flight. These results suggest that plant-herbivore chemical signals and learning enhances the foraging efficacy of M. croceipes.     

A high incidence of parasitism ofHeliothis SPP. [Lep.: Noctuidae] larvae in cotton in Southeastern Arkansas

During 1981 and 1982, bollworm,Heliothis zea (Boddie), and tobacco budworm,H. virescens (F.), larvae (n=3,666) were collected from 41 cotton fields near Portland, Arkansas (USA) to assess the occurrence of parasitism. Three strategies were employed to controlHeliothis spp. in these fields: (1) release ofTrichogramma pretiosum Riley; (2) insecticidal control; or (3) inaction (check). Insecticide use in nonchemical control fields was reduced, but not eliminated.Heliothis spp. larvae collected in cotton had higher parasitism rates in 1981 (30.9%) and 1982 (50.1%) than had been reported for cotton since the advent of organochlorine insecticide usage. Four species of larval parasites and 1 species of larval-pupal parasite were recorded. The larval parasiteMicroplitis croceipes (Cresson) comprised 90.6% and 94.5% of all parasitic insects reared from field collectedHeliothis spp. in 1981 and 1982, respectively. No difference (P>0.05) in level of parasitism existed betweenH. zea andH. virescens. Differences between treatments occurred only in 1982 whenH. zea larvae were parasitized at a greater (P<0.05) rate in check fields (68.3%) than in insecticidal control fields (44.3%). Higher levels of larval parasitism in cotton fields may be a consequence of reduced insecticide usage and changes in materials applied, particularly the pyrethroids. Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.     

Influence of handling and conditioning protocol on learning and memory of Microplitis croceipes

Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) learns odors in association with both hosts and food. The food‐associated ‘seeking’ behavior of M. croceipes was investigated under various training protocols utilizing the conditioning odor, 3‐octanone. We investigated the effects of odor training, or its lack, training duration, training frequency, time elapsed after training, wasp hunger state, and training reinforcement, on the food‐seeking responses of M. croceipes females. We found that odor‐trained females show strong food seeking responses, whereas non‐odor‐trained females do not respond to the odor, and that a single 10 s association with the odor whilst feeding on sugar water subsequently conditioned the wasps to exhibiting significant responses to it. Increases in training time to more than 10 s did not improve their responses. Repetition of the food–odor associations increased a wasp's recall, as well as its response over time, compared to a single exposure. Repeated exposure to the learned odor in the absence of a food reward decreased the responses of less hungry individuals. However, the level of response increased significantly following a single reinforcement with the food–odor association. Understanding the factors that influence learning in parasitoids can enhance our ability to predict their foraging behavior, and opens up avenues for the development of effective biological detectors.     

Three viruses found in the braconid parasitoid Microplitis croceipes and their implications in biological control programs

Productivity and longevity decreased in a laboratory colony of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Using light microscopy, it was determined that the colony was free of microsporidia. However, samples of the colony examined for pathogens by electron microscopy revealed three types of viruses: a nonpathogenic polydnavirus which is produced by all female wasps; a nonoccluded baculovirus which is pathogenic to late-stage pupae and adults; and a picorna-like virus which is present in larvae, pupae, and adults. The nonoccluded baculovirus was eliminated from the laboratory colony of M. croceipes by selection of progeny from wasps which had oviposited within 2 to 3 days after emergence from the cocoons and which had lived for at least 14 days post-emergence. Upon death, the wasps were examined by negative stain electron microscopy and only progeny from baculovirus-free wasps were retained. Parasitoid colonies should be systematically examined for pathogenic viruses that may reduce their productivity and efficacy as biological control agents. In addition, exotic parasitoids and predators should be evaluated for viruses and other pathogens while in quarantine.     

A bodyguard or a tastier meal? Dying caterpillar indirectly protects parasitoid cocoons by offering alternate prey to a generalist predator

In some parasitic Hymenoptera the dying caterpillars remain attached or close to the parasitoid cocoons. It has been suggested that the caterpillars act as ‘bodyguards’ for the vulnerable cocoons and therefore protect them against predators and/or hyperparasitoids (the ‘usurpation hypothesis’). This hypothesis has been demonstrated in associations where the caterpillars remain active and/or aggressive after parasitism. However, in other associations the caterpillars are so physiologically depleted after parasitism that they are unable to physically defend the cocoons and instead sit atop them in a moribund state. In this study a generalist predator, the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), was provided with cocoons of the gregarious endoparasitoid Cotesia glomerata L. and the solitary endoparasitoid Microplitis mediator Haliday (both Hymenoptera: Braconidae), in turn attended by their hosts, Pieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), respectively. Cotesia glomerata produces broods of up to 40 cocoons and the dying caterpillars sit atop the cocoons where they exhibit little response to physical stimuli. Previous studies reported that dying P. brassicae caterpillars were ineffective bodyguards against two species of hyperparasitoids. In both associations, the dying host caterpillars were significantly preferred as food by P. maculiventris over the parasitoid cocoons. However, in absence of caterpillars, the bugs readily attacked the C. glomerata cocoons. Alternatively, the survival of M. mediator was very low, irrespective of whether a caterpillar was present or not. Caterpillars attacked by M. mediator are several times smaller than those attacked by C. glomerata. Consequently, the predators ran out of food much more quickly in the former and switched from one prey to the other. We show that in some host–parasitoid associations the dying caterpillars provide more visually apparent or nutritionally superior prey, rather than acting as bodyguards.     

粘虫及其寄生性天敌—管侧沟茧蜂饲养方法

系统介绍了粘虫Mythimna separata (Walker)室内饲养的设备、步骤、技术要点、人工饲料配方及环境要求,并以粘虫为中间寄主,实现了粘虫低龄幼虫寄生性天敌管侧沟茧蜂Microplitis tuberculifer (Wesmael) 的室内大量繁殖,为进一步利用该蜂防治甜菜夜蛾、粘虫等田间害虫打下了良好的基础。     

中红侧沟茧蜂多分DNA病毒基本特征研究

本文首次报道中红侧沟茧蜂 (Microplitismediator)雌蜂卵巢中存在多分DNA病毒 (MicroplitismediatorPlolyd navirus,MmPDV) ,初步研究了MmPDV形态和基本生理生化特征。利用蔗糖密度梯度超速离心分离纯化了MmPDV粒子 ,电镜负染显示PDV粒子分三段 ,带有一明显的尾部结构 ,大小约为 130× 35nm ;SDS PAGE电泳条带较多 ,至少可以分辨出 2 6个电泳条带 ,表明病毒粒子衣壳蛋白复杂 ;琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示MmPDV基因组至少由大小不同、丰度不等的 14个DNA分子组成 ,用 6种内切酶 (EcoRI,HindIII,BssHII,PstI,BamHI,BglI)酶切MmPDV基因组后 ,估算出MmPDV基因组大小约为 10 8kb。用雌蜂输卵管萼液注射小地老虎幼虫 ,注射后的小地老虎体重和龄期发育动态表明 ,MmPDV具有抑制寄主生长发育的生理功能     

淡足侧沟茧蜂寄生对甜菜夜蛾幼虫血淋巴总糖、蛋白质及虫体脂质含量的影响

为探讨淡足侧沟茧蜂Microplitis pallidipes Szepligeti调控寄主的生理机制,测定了淡足侧沟茧蜂寄生后,甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua(Hübner)幼虫血淋巴总糖、蛋白质及虫体脂类含量的变化。研究结果表明,寄生后连续5 d的观察时间内,甜菜夜蛾幼虫血淋巴总糖含量从寄生后第1天开始就高于未寄生寄主幼虫,且在寄生后第2至5天达到显著水平;除寄生后第3天外,被寄生寄主幼虫血淋巴总蛋白质含量始终低于未寄生幼虫,且在寄生后第1、4、5天达到显著水平;甜菜夜蛾被寄生后,虫体脂质含量始终高于未寄生幼虫,且从寄生后第2天开始达到显著水平。本研究揭示,淡足侧沟茧蜂寄生刺激了寄主甜菜夜蛾幼虫血淋巴总糖合成,但抑制了其蛋白质合成,同时也刺激了甜菜夜蛾虫体脂质合成。     

Parasitoid polydnaviruses: evolution,pathology and applications

One of the more unusual groups of insect pathogens consists of members of the family Polydnaviridae, insect DNA viruses that live in mutual symbioses with their associated parasitoid wasp (Hymentoptera) carriers until they are injected into specific lepidopteran hosts. Once inside this secondary host, polydnaviruses cause a wide variety of negative effects that ultimately ensure the survival of the parasitoid larvae. Because of their unusual life strategy and genetic features, it had been difficult to fully characterise polydnaviruses in terms of evolutionary history, replication cycle and functions in the host that might normally be well characterised for more conventional viruses. Recently, our understanding of polydnavirus evolutionary origins, gene content, genome organisation and functions in parasitism has greatly increased. Key findings are summarised in this review with emphasis on evolution of polydnavirus genes and genomes, their functional roles in insect pathology and their potential applications in insect biological control and biotechnology.