Genetics of the Behavioral Ecology of Egg Parasitoids

It is time to bridge the gap between exploring and exploiting: prospects for utilizing intraspecific genetic variation to optimize arthropods for augmentative pest control – a review

“…Utilizing natural variation to improve biological control is especially feasible for species whose genetics and ecology have been studied extensively (Hoy, ), including many parasitoids, predatory mites, and predatory ladybird beetles. Selecting genotypes best suited for biological control requires good characterization of standing intraspecific genetic diversity for the traits of interest (Narang et al., ; Wajnberg, ) and the presence of adequate genetic variation in the initial rearing culture is of key importance to the success of selective breeding programmes (Johnson & Tabashnik, ). Populations from various geographical locations have sometimes been compared for their efficacy in biological control, after which the most effective populations were selected for development as biological control agents (Wajnberg, ).…”

“…To find target traits for selective breeding, the experience of biocontrol producers could be complemented with sensitivity analyses of demographic biocontrol agent–pest models (Godfray & Waage, ). Traits commonly featured for optimization are as follows: climatic adaptation, habitat preference, synchrony with hosts, host‐searching capacity, specificity, dispersal ability, attack rate, longevity, non‐diapause, female fecundity, and offspring sex ratio (Wajnberg, , ). For many of these traits, genetic variation has indeed been observed between and within populations of a variety of biological control agents (for reviews, see Hopper et al., ; Wajnberg, , ), providing scope for selective breeding programmes.…”

“…Another source of variation is intraspecific, but this is hardly assessed in the current practice of augmentative biological pest control when selecting for, or developing, arthropod natural enemies. There is ample evidence of such intraspecific variation for traits important in biological control (Hopper et al., ; Lozier et al., ; Nachappa et al., ; Tabone et al., ; Wajnberg, ; Wajnberg et al., ), which may exist between as well as within populations. In some species, this variation is studied intensively to answer basic questions in ecology and evolution.…”

Laboratory Performance Predicts the Success of Field Releases in Inbred Lines of the Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

“…For the improvement of biological control programs, studies are needed to assess the different intraspecific traits of the agents, especially in the field. Many behavioral traits are influenced by intraspecific genetic variation, and, better estimators of the ability of the biological control agent to respond to environmental conditions and increase its survival in the field are needed [ 20 ]. An efficient biological control agent is a natural enemy that is not only able to efficiently locate and attack a host, but that is also capable of remaining in a host-infested area until the host population is substantially reduced [ 7 ].…”

Biologi Scelio pembertoni Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) pada telur Oxya japonica (Thunberg) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

“…Menurut Romani et al (2010), parasitoid telur merupakan agens hayati paling efektif dibandingkan dengan parasitoid lainnya, hal ini karena parasitoid telur dapat mengendalikan hama sebelum hama tersebut menjadi larva atau nimfa. Penggunaan parasitoid telur juga dinilai lebih menguntungkan karena parasitoid telur berukuran kecil sehingga cukup mudah dan murah untuk perbanyakan dalam skala besar di laboratorium (Wajnberg 2010). Pemberton (1933) melaporkan penggunaan S. pembertoni telah sukses digunakan sebagai agens pengendali hayati Oxya chinensis (Thunberg) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) di Hawaii (Pemberton 1933).…”