Ecological traits of a new aphid parasitoid, Endaphis fugitiva (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), and its potential for biological control of the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/systentomologyusda Part of the Entomology CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous at DigitalCommons@University of NebraskaLincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska -Lincoln.Muratori, Frédéric B.; Gagne, Raymond J.; and Messing, Rusell H., "Ecological traits of a new aphid parasitoid, Endaphis fugitiva (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), and its potential for biological control of the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa (Hemiptera: Aphididae)" (2009 b s t r a c tMost parasitoids of aphids are small wasps belonging to the families Braconidae or Aphelinidae. However, some dipteran parasitoids are also known to use aphids as hosts. We describe and give life-history information on a new species of aphid parasitoid, Endaphis fugitiva Gagné and Muratori, found to parasitize the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel, the vector of banana bunchy top virus. Field and laboratory observations show that fly eggs are laid on the leaves near an aphid colony, the newly hatched fly larvae search for hosts while crawling on the leaf, and then penetrate the aphid between the legs and thorax. They develop as koinobiont endoparasitoids, and eventually emerge from the aphid anus and fall to the ground to pupate in the soil. We provide data relevant to parasitoid rearing on patterns of emergence, adult longevity, and effects of pupation substrate on adult emergence rate, and we discuss the potential of this new species to contribute to the biocontrol of banana aphid in Hawaii.

Descriptions of two new endoparasitic cecidomyiids (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from Japan

“…The genus Endaphis was erected for a cecidomyiid species attacking aphids as an endoparasitoid (Kieffer 1896) and now consists of six species worldwide (Gagné 2004;Muratori et al 2009) (Table 1).…”

“…Endaphis is distinguished from Endopsylla by the absence of mediobasal lobes of the gonocoxites in the male genitalia (Harris 1966;Tang et al 1994) and the shorter necks of the first several female flagellomeres (Kieffer 1913). Two sets of circumfilar loops on the male flagellomere were previously used to distinguish Endaphis from Endopsylla, but they are no longer considered to be good key characteristics because Endaphis species may have one or two sets of circumfilar loops on the distal node (Tang et al 1994;Muratori et al 2009). …”

Induced niche shift as an anti-predator response for an endoparasitoid

“…First, predator detection can be mediated by cues in the host haemolymph, such as the release of a stress factor by the attacked host. For E. fugitiva, the head of the final instar larva possess two large antennae and has several sensory papillae (Muratori et al 2009). Second, direct physical contact between the larval integument and the predator mouthparts might trigger the parasitoid response.…”

“…Subsequently, another batch of early emerged larvae were produced by applying artificial injuries to hosts, as explained for experiment 1. These larvae (n ¼ 40 for each treatment) were individually reared in plastic cups (diameter 3 cm) filled with moist sand to allow pupation and emergence of the adults (Muratori et al 2009). Adult emergence was checked daily in order to evaluate the pupation duration.…”

“…The newly hatched larvae actively search for hosts, climb upon the aphids' abdomen, and enter the aphids between the coxa and the thorax to develop as solitary endoparasitoids feeding on aphid body tissues. Once mature, the larvae emerge from the host through the anus to pupate in the soil (Muratori et al 2009). During immature development, mortality risk for the aphid translates directly to mortality risk for Endaphis larvae.…”