Ovipositing behaviour of Compsobracon mirabilis (Szépligeti) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in a cerrado habitat, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

RESUMO. Comportamento de oviposição deCompsobracon mirabilis (Szépligeti) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) em um habitat de cerrado, sudeste do Brasil. O comportamento de oviposição do braconídeo parasitóide, Compsobracon mirabilis (Szépligeti, 1901) é descrito. As observações foram conduzidas em uma região de cerrado localizada em Três Marias, Minas Gerais, Brasil. A oviposição foi feita em um ramo de Alibertia concolor (Cham.) K. Schum.1889 (Rubiaceae), no interior do qual havia treze larvas de uma espécie de Lepidoptera não identificada. PALAVRAS-CHAVE. Alibertia concolor;Braconidae; comportamento de oviposição; Hymenoptera; parasitismo.ABSTRACT. The oviposition behaviour of the braconid parasitoid, Compsobracon mirabilis ( Szépligeti, 1901) is described. Observations were conducted in a cerrado region located in Três Marias, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The oviposition occurred in a branch of Alibertia concolor (Cham.) K. Schum. 1889 (Rubiaceae), inside of which there were thirteen larvae of an unidentified species of Lepidoptera.

Larval Biology of Anthophagous Eumaeini (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae, Theclinae) in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

“…Conversely, braconids in the genus Cotesia Cameron (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) can use attendant ants to guide their oviposition ( Pierce and Mead 1981 , Pierce et al 1987 , Seufert and Fiedler 1999 ). Parasitoids can also use visual cues (frass or the arrangement of leaf shelters or silken threads, Sugiura and Yamazaki 2006 ) and chemicals to find their host ( Price et al 1980 , Gentry and Dyer 2002 , Santos et al . 2004 ).…”

“…For example, behavioral observations of the parasitoid and the preservation of the remnants of larvae and pupa can be useful for identifying different Hymenoptera species and, when necessary, for identifying the lepidopteran ( Shaw 1997 , Townsend and Shaw 2009 ). Because of the importance of parasitoids in regulating the populations of various insects ( Hanson and Gauld 1995 , Jordão and Silva 2006 ), knowledge and documentation, at least in part, of their biology is essential to understand multitrophic parasitoid-host interactions ( Price et al 1980 , Schurian et al 1993 , Santos et al 2004 , Fernandes et al 2010 ).…”

Four Commonly Confused Hairstreaks (Lycaenidae, Theclinae, Eumaeini): Three Need Names, One Does Not

“…Conversely, braconids in the genus Cotesia Cameron (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) can use attendant ants to guide their oviposition (Pierce and Mead 1981, Pierce et al 1987, Seufert and Fiedler 1999. Parasitoids can also use visual cues (frass or the arrangement of leaf shelters or silken threads, Sugiura and Yamazaki 2006) and chemicals to find their host (Price et al 1980, Gentry and Dyer 2002, Santos et al 2004). This approach may have been the case for the K. syllis specimen that was taken in the folds of flowers on the ground.…”

“…For example, behavioral observations of the parasitoid and the preservation of the remnants of larvae and pupa can be useful for identifying different Hymenoptera species and, when necessary, for identifying the lepidopteran (Shaw 1997, Townsend andShaw 2009). Because of the importance of parasitoids in regulating the populations of various insects (Hanson andGauld 1995, Jordão andSilva 2006), knowledge and documentation, at least in part, of their biology is essential to understand multitrophic parasitoid-host interactions (Price et al 1980, Schurian et al 1993, Santos et al 2004, Fernandes et al 2010.…”