Interactions between the solitary endoparasitoid, Meteorus gyrator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and its host, Lacanobia oleracea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), infected with the entomopathogenic microsporidium, Vairimorpha necatrix (Microspora: Microsporidia)

Abstract

Infection of Lacanobia oleracea (Linnaeus) larvae with the microsporidium Vairimorpha necatrix (Kramer) resulted in significant effects on the survival and development of the braconid parasitoid, Meteorus gyrator (Thunberg). Female M. gyrator did not show any avoidance of V. necatrix-infected hosts when they were selecting hosts for oviposition. When parasitism occurred at the same time as infection by the pathogen, or up to four days later, no significant detrimental effects on the parasitoid were observed. However, when parasitism occurred six to eight days after infection, a greater proportion (12.5-14%) of hosts died before parasitoid larvae egressed. Successful eclosion of adult wasps was also reduced. When parasitism and infection were concurrent, parasitoid larval development was significantly faster in infected hosts, and cocoons were significantly heavier. However, as the time interval between infection and parasitism increased, parasitoid larval development was significantly extended by up to two days, and the cocoons formed were significantly (c. 20%) smaller. Vairimorpha necatrix spores were ingested by the developing parasitoid larvae, accumulated in the occluded midgut, and were excreted in the meconium upon pupation.

Parasitism Performance and Fitness of Cotesia vestalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Infected with Nosema sp. (Microsporidia: Nosematidae): Implications in Integrated Pest Management Strategy

“…DBM infection also prolonged the pupation period of both the generations. This result is in agreement with those reported for Glyptapanteles liparidis (Bouche) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Meteorus gyrator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) [45], [50]. However, no association between host microsporidium infection and parasitoid developmental time was observed for parasitoids from the families Encyrtidae and Pteromalidae [47], [51].…”

Host activity and wasp experience affect parasitoid wasp foraging behaviour and oviposition on nematode‐infected larvae of the forestry pest Hylobius abietis

“…Both naïve and experienced wasps accepted live nematode-infected hosts for oviposition, however, even although their progeny would have no chance of survival. This is not unusual: parasitoids frequently do not reject hosts in advanced stages of infection by entomopathogens including fungi, bacteria, and microsporidia (Chilcutt & Tabashnik, 1999;Lord, 2001;Down et al, 2005). Rejection of pathogen-infected hosts has been reported in some instances, however (Sher et al, 2000;Head et al, 2003;Lacey et al, 2003).…”

“…Insects can be host to parasitoid wasps and entomopathogens that occur in their environment naturally or that have been introduced for biological control purposes. In situations where they occur together, competition between parasitoid wasps and pathogen-infected hosts (Hoch & Schopf, 2001;Lord, 2001;Down et al, 2005), although rejection or avoidance of host larvae infected by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) has been reported for a number of parasitoids of cryptic hosts (Sher et al, 2000;Head et al, 2003;Lacey et al, 2003). In most of the latter cases it is not clear, however, if wasps located and then did not oviposit on infected hosts or failed to locate them in the first place.…”

Polyphagous koinobiosis: the biology and biocontrol potential of a braconid endoparasitoid of exophytic caterpillars

“…Some congeneric species have also been studied, albeit less rigorously. These include Meteorus autographae Muesebeck (Grant and Shepard 1984), Meteorus ictericus (Nees) (Bürgi and Mills 2013), Meteorus pendulus (Müller) [= M. gyrator (Thunberg)] (Bell et al 2000(Bell et al , 2003(Bell et al , 2004Down et al 2005;Smethurst et al 2004), and Meteorus trachynotus Viereck (Thireau et al 1990); see also Shaw and Huddleston (1991) and Quicke (2015) for studies on other Meteorus species.…”