Host Preference and Fitness of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Different Instars of the Aphid Schizaphis graminum.

Clicks: 223
ID: 14258
2019
Parasitoid fitness is strongly influenced by host quality for immature parasitoid development and by oviposition host choice patterns made by adult female parasitoids. This study aimed to determine immature host quality of Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) host instars preference. To this end, the host quality of immature stages of S. graminum was assessed by rearing the parasitoid in all four instars of the aphid, placing each nymph stage of the aphid parasitized by L. testaceipes in separate Petri dishes with sorghum leaves over a 1% agar-water solution at 23 ± 1°C and a 12:12 h L:D photoperiod. The host-age preferences of the parasitoid between second and fourth instar nymphs were analyzed by choice (ten nymphs of each instar) and non-choice (ten nymphs of one instar) tests, observing parasitoid foraging in a 5-cm arena for 5 min under a stereoscopic microscope. Third and fourth instars were better hosts than first or second instars, with faster developmental times, resulting in larger wasps with bigger hind tibia size and more eggs in their ovarioles (i.e., higher initial egg load). Females preferred to oviposit in fourth instar aphids in both choice and non-choice tests. Selection by adult L. testaceipes females of older instars of S. graminum for oviposition maximizes parasitoid fitness as these instars are intrinsically more suitable for development of parasitoid offspring.
Reference Key
vieira2019hostneotropical Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Vieira, L J P;Franco, G M;Sampaio, M V;
Journal Neotropical entomology
Year 2019
DOI 10.1007/s13744-018-0662-z
URL
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.