Host range ofAsobara japonica(Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of drosophilid flies

Abstract

We studied the host range of Asobara japonica, a larval-pupal parasitoid of drosophilid flies. Habitat selection was found to be an important determinant of host range in this parasitoid; it attacked drosophilid larvae breeding on banana and mushrooms, but seldom attacked those breeding on decayed leaves. This parasitoid was able to use diverse drosophilid taxa as hosts. Attack by A. japonica sometimes killed hosts at the larval stage, and therefore parasitoid larvae also died. Drosophila elegans and D. busckii suffered particularly high larval mortality due to the attack by A. japonica (in the latter species only when young larvae were attacked). Many individuals of D. subpulchrella also died at the pupal stage without producing parasitoids when they were parasitized at the late larval stage. In contrast, D. bipectinata, D. ficusphila, D. immigrans, D. formosana and D. albomicans were resistant to attack: large proportions of the larvae of these drosophilid species grew to adulthood, even in the presence of parasitoids. On the basis of phylogenetic information, we concluded that phylogenetic position has only limited importance as a factor determining whether a species is suitable as a host for A. japonica, at least within the genus Drosophila.

Distribution, abundance and host association of two parasitoid species attacking frugivorous drosophilid larvae in central Japan

“…This may indicate that its ability to parasitize these drosophilids is a by-product of its ability to parasitize the major host species in subtropical areas where it has originated (Murata et al, 2009). On the other hand, some subtropical Drosophila species have evolved resistance to this parasitoid (Ideo et al, 2008;Furihata & Kimura, 2009;Murata et al, 2009), suggesting co-evolutionary interactions.…”

“…Another parasitoid, Asobara japonica, parasitizes a variety of drosophilid species occurring in this area (Ideo et al, 2008). It is not clear why it has such a wide host range.…”

“…Here, the distribution, abundance and seasonality of parasitoids attacking frugivorous drosophilids in the suburbs of Tokyo were investigated in order to understand how their abundance and distribution are determined. The community studied is composed of two major parasitoids, Ganaspis xanthopoda (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and Asobara japonica Belokobylskij (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and several species of drosophilids (Nishiharu, 1980;Mitsui et al, 2007;Ideo et al, 2008). For this area, the distribution, abundance and seasonality of the drosophilid flies are well documented (Nishiharu, 1980;Beppu, 2000Beppu, , 2006Mitsui & Kimura, 2000a, b;Mitsui et al, 2010), whereas little is known about the ecology of the parasitoids (Mitsui et al, 2007;Ideo et al, 2008).…”

Abundance and host associations of parasitoids attacking frugivorous drosophilids on Iriomote-jima, a subtropical island of Japan

“…In central Japan, this parasitoid parasitizes most of the species of Drosophila it encounters (Ideo et al, 2008;Mitsui et al, 2010). On Iriomote-jima, however, our results indicate that there are several species that are completely resistant to this wasp (e.g.…”

A new case of Wolbachia dependence in the genus Asobara: evidence for parthenogenesis induction in Asobara japonica

“…Biological system Asobara japonica (Hymenoptera:Braconidae:Alysiinae) is a solitary endoparasitoid laying its eggs into the first or second instar larvae of Diptera and especially Drosophila species (Mitsui et al, 2007;Ideo et al, 2008). Wasps were trapped in the field using banana and natural fruits found in some localities (see Mitsui et al 2007).…”