Host Deprivation Effect on Reproduction and Survival of Wolbachia-Infected and Uninfected Trichogramma kaykai Pinto & Stouthamer (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Abstract

-The effect of temporary host deprivation on the reproduction and survival of Trichogramma kaykai Pinto & Stouthamer was determined by comparing a Wolbachia-infected (thelytokous) and an arrhenotokous line of T. kaykai when reared on Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs. The progeny produced by both arrhenotokous and thelytokous females decreased with increasing periods of host deprivation, but arrhenotokous females produced significantly more progeny than thelytokous females regardless of the period of host deprivation (0 to 10 days). They also produced more daughters. Host deprivation did not affect brood size within arrhenotokous or thelytokous lines. However, fewer wasps emerged from hosts parasitized by Wolbachia-infected than by uninfected T. kaykai. A direct relationship existed between longevity and the length of time an arrhenotokous or a thelytokous wasp was deprived of hosts. The longer the deprivation period, the longer they lived. However, arrhenotokous females lived longer than their thelytokous counterparts. These findings showed that temporary host deprivation (up to 10 days) affected both reproductive forms similarly. However, in all conditions studied arrhenotokous wasps produced more progeny and lived longer than their thelytokous counterparts.

Peer Review #3 of "Host and symbiont genetic contributions to fitness in a Trichogramma–Wolbachia symbiosis (v0.1)"

“…All lines used in this study produced highly female-biased offspring sex ratios as virgins, producing some males as they aged. This is a pattern typical of Wolbachia infected T. kaykai females (Hohmann et al 2001;Miura & Tagami 2004). Consistent with this parthenogenesis, the lines also tested positive for Wolbachia infection, based on 16S rDNA.…”

Are individuals from thelytokous and arrhenotokous populations equally adept as biocontrol agents? Orientation and host searching behavior of a fruit fly parasitoid

“…Some studies have reported parasitism rates, emergence, and progeny production to be low in thelytokous organisms when compared with their arrhenotokous counterparts (Miura and Tagami 2004;Hohmann et al 2001). However, other characteristics, such as mature ovarian eggs at emergence, can be similar (Miura and Tagami 2004) and thelytokous wasps may have relatively greater longevity and higher intrinsic rates of natural increase (Miura and Tagami 2004), as well as more rapid responses to hosts (Silva et al 2000).…”

“…Some of these traits are morphological or physiological, such as fecundity, longevity, adult size, and parasitism rates (Grenier and De Clercq 2003). Reductions in parasitism rates, emergence, progeny production, and survivorship of Wolbachia-infected Trichogramma kaykai Pinto and Stouthamer (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) have been reported (Miura and Tagami 2004;Hohmann et al 2001). On the other hand, other parameters such as numbers of mature ovarian eggs at emergence of T. kaykai (Miura and Tagami 2004) are similar in infected and uninfected strains.…”

Performance of Arrhenotokous and Thelytokous <I>Thrips tabaci</I> (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Onion and Cabbage and Its Implications on Evolution and Pest Management

“…Despite their similar adult life span, thelytokous parasitoids produced signiÞcantly fewer offspring than arrhenotokous ones (Wang and Smith 1996). In Trichogramma kaykai Pinto & Stouthamer reared on Trichoplusia ni (Hü bner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs, arrhenotokous wasps produced more progeny and lived longer than their thelytokous counterparts (Hohmann et al 2001). When reared on Apodemia mormo (C. Felder & R. Felder) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) eggs, thelytokous Tr.…”