Effect of host egg age on preference, development and arrestment of Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Age of host eggs can be a limiting factor for egg parasitoids. It is expected that old eggs are less preferred by egg parasitoids, which can discriminate between eggs of different ages by using chemical cues. The objective of this study was to determine the preference, development and arrestment of Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) parasitizing Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs of different ages. This egg parasitoid preferred to parasitize 1-and 2-day-old eggs rather than 3-day-old eggs in choice and no-choice assays. However, although the percentage emergence of parasitoids is significantly lower from 2-and 3-day-old eggs, the sex ratio and developmental time are unaffected. Parasitoids spent longer searching substrates impregnated with extracts of 1-and 2-day old eggs than 3-day-old eggs. Our results reveal that T. remus is able to distinguish the most suitable (1-day-old) from the least suitable (3-day-old) host eggs, but unable to recognize the unsuitability of intermediate aged eggs. Egg arrestants may be responsible for the preference of T. remus for ovipositing in 1-and 2-day old eggs.

A new substitute host and its effects on some biological properties ofOoencyrtus kuvanae

“…Furthermore, different ages (1, 2 or 3 days old) of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs affect the percentage emergence of Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) (Peñaflor et al , 2012). We conclude that the effects of host age vary according to parasitoid species.…”

Establishment in the Field ofCleruchoides noackae(Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an Exotic Egg Parasitoid ofThaumastocoris peregrinus(Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae)

“…The parasitism rate of 1-d-old T. peregrinus eggs by C. noackae in the laboratory was higher than that reported on Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) clone Tag 5 in South Africa, which was 34.1 and 16.6% in 0-to 1-d-old and 4-to 5-d-old eggs, respectively, of this host (Mutitu et al 2013). Hosts in the initial development stages may be more appropriate than those in the late stages for hymenopteran parasitoids (Lytle et al 2012;Peñaflor et al 2012;Tavares et al 2013) as shown for C. noackae (Mutitu et al 2013), Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault, Gonatocerus triguttatus Girault, and Gonatocerus fasciatus Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) (Irvin & Hoddle 2005), Trichogramma species (Vianna et al 2009;Soares et al 2012), and Eulophidae species (Pereira et al 2008a,b).…”

Megaplatypus mutatus(Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae) Attacks HybridEucalyptusL'Héritier De Brutelle Clones In Southern Espírito Santo, Brazil

“…Hosts in the initial development stages may be more appropriate than those in the late stages for hymenopteran parasitoids (Lytle et al 2012;Peñaflor et al 2012;Tavares et al 2013) as shown for C. noackae (Mutitu et al 2013), Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault, Gonatocerus triguttatus Girault, and Gonatocerus fasciatus Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) (Irvin & Hoddle 2005), Trichogramma species (Vianna et al 2009;Soares et al 2012), and Eulophidae species (Pereira et al 2008a,b).…”