Biological studies on Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead, 1890) (Hym., Ichneumonidae), an endoparasite of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Abbot & Smith, 1797) (Lepid., Noctuidae)

Abstract

Biological data revealed that the egg stage of Campoletis flavicincta lasted from 2 to 4 days and the larval stage comprised 4 instars. The larval and pupal stages lasted 7.14 ±0.05 and 8.24 ±0.44 days, respectively. The longevity among laboratory culture females was shorter than those originated from field collected pupae. The sex ratio was largely affected by host size. The life cycle averaged approximately 23 days. During the oviposition period, the female was able to deposit an average of 146 eggs. This ichneumonid, normally solitary endoparasite, was able to deposit 2 to 4 eggs/larva when host population densities were low, but without any successful development. Zusammenfassung Beiträge zur Biologie von Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead, 1890) (Hym., Ichneumonidae), ein Endoparasit von Spodoptera frugiperda (Abbot & Smith, 1797) (Lepid., Noctuidae) Die biologischen Daten zeigen, daß die Eientwicklung von Campoletis flavicincta 2–4 Tage dauerte und die larvale Entwicklung vier Stadien umfaßte. Larven‐ und Puppenstadien dauerten 7.14 ± 0.05 bzw. 8.24 ± 0.44 Tage. Im Labor herangezogene Weibchen hatten eine kürzere Lebensdauer als solche, die von Freilandpuppen stammten. Das Männchen: Weibchen‐Verhältnis wurde hauptsächlich durch die Größe der Wirtsraupen bestimmt. Der Entwicklungszyklus beanspruchte 23 Tage. Das Weibchen legte i. M. 146 Eier. Dieser normalerweise solitäre Ichneumonide Endoparasit legt bei niedriger Wirtspopulation 2–4 Eier pro Spodoptera‐Larve ab, aber die Entwicklung wird dann nicht vollendet.

Parasitism-mediated prey selectivity in laboratory conditions and implications for biological control

“…The parasitoid wasp Campoletis flavicincta (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is also naturally found in maize and shows great potential in controlling S. frugiperda (Matos Neto, Cruz, Zanuncio, Silva, & Picanço 2004). This species lays one to four eggs on S. frugiperda larvae and when these eggs eventually hatch they develop inside the host, killing it by the time adult parasitoids emerge from their pupae (Patel & Habib 1987). When a larva is parasitised its physiology changes, most notably, in a biological control context, its growth decelerates reducing resource consumption, eventually leading to death (Godfray 1994;Beckage & Gelman 2004).…”

Microcharops anticarsiae (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) parasitoid ofAnticarsia gemmatalis (Lep.: Noctuidae): Host age preference, sex ratio effects and functional response

“…Hence, fourth instar larvae could be considered as a preferred age by M. anticarsiae, as more females emerged than males. The appropriate parameter to measure host age preference should be the sex ratio (Lingren et al, 1970 ;Patel & Habib, 1987). eggs that would develop into males in smaller host larvae.…”

“…It could also be inferred that females intentionally deposited The curve is predicted from the disc equation (Holling, 1959) and the points are observed values of the numbers of A. gemmatalis parasitized/day. Offering only one or two instars or one age group (Lingren et aL, 1970, Patel & Habib, 1987Isenhour, 1985) to a parasitoid female does not indicate the real preference for the host age. Earlier results indicate that reduced host size stimulates parthenogenetic reproduction (DeBach, 1964 ;Clausen, 1972).…”

The Midgut of the ParasitoidCampoletis flavicincta(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

“…The life cycle of the parasitoid is 19 days, including 12 days from egg to pupa and 7 days of the pupal period. Adults feed upon nectar and have longevities of 23 days for females and 29 days for males (Ashley 1979;Patel & Habib 1987;Cruz et al 1995;Cruz et al 1997).…”