Nectar Sources for Larra Bicolor (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), a Parasitoid of Scapteriscus Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), in Northern Florida

Arévalo, H. Alejandro; Frank, J. Howard

doi:10.1653/0015-4040(2005)088[0146:nsflbh]2.0.co;2

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…A variety of crops, weeds, and wild plants can occur on agricultural landscapes, but not all of these species provide resources for parasitoid wasps. Some of the plant species do not produce nectar, while others may have long or complicated corollas that can limit nectar availability for small wasps and other short mouthed insects (Baggen et al, 1999;Arévalo and Frank, 2005;Vattala et al, 2006). Even plant species with accessible nectar may vary in the quantity and nutritional characteristics of the floral resource such as the sucrose to hexose ratio of the nectar (Koptur, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A meta-analysis of physiological and behavioral responses of parasitoid wasps to flowers of individual plant species

Russell

2015

Biological Control

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A meta-analysis of physiological and behavioral responses of parasitoid wasps to flowers of individual plant species

Russell

2015

Biological Control

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“…C. fasciculata and S. fistulosa were chosen on the basis of historical observations of Larra spp. feeding from these plants in the Þeld (Smith 1935, Aré valo andFrank 2005). S. remota and S. prostrata were included because both are indigenous Spermacoce species that occur throughout Florida (Wunderlin 1998).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nectar-Seeking and Host-Seeking byLarra bicolor(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), a Parasitoid ofScapteriscusMole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

et al. 2010

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Larra bicolor F. (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) is a specialist parasitoid of Scapteriscus (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) mole crickets, attacking adults and medium to large nymphs of the hosts. Adult wasps derive energy from plant nectars. In replicated trials in pastures in northern Florida, many more wasps fed on nectar of Spermacoce verticillata F. (Rubiaceae), a non-native plant, than on nectar of the native plants Spermacoce prostrata Aubl. or Spermacoce remota Lamarck. Few of them fed on the native plant Solidago fistulosa Michx. (Asteraceae). About as many fed on the native plant Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx) Greene as on S. verticillata in the autumn months until the native plant ceased flowering by October. In contrast, S. verticillata continues flowering until the first hard freeze, which typically occurs in December, so overall, it is a more reliable nectar source in northern Florida and may be still more reliable in frost-free areas of southern Florida where it may flower year-round. The number of immature wasps (eggs and larvae) parasitizing mole crickets was positively related to host density but also declined with distance from a plot of S. verticillata out to 200 m, based on samples of pitfall trap-collected mole crickets. The occurrence of parasitized mole crickets at a 200-m distance suggests that female wasps recruited to a plot of S. verticillata forage for hosts out to at least 200 m. This in turn suggests that mole cricket populations might be diminished by planting plots of S. verticillata at least 400 m apart when L. bicolor wasps are present.

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“…Numbers of wasps (dependent variable) from 6 days in 2007 and 10 days in 2008 were pooled, log transformed. Since these are counts, Poisson regression (2) was performed (PROC GLIMMIX, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) using the difference of least squares means procedure (t tests) to determine the fixed effect of flowering plant taxa (independent variable).…”

Section: Are Certain Flowering Ornamental Plants As Attractive To L mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Florida, L. bicolor has two to three asynchronous generations per year (6,9). Activity of L. bicolor is typically determined by physical observations of wasps on turfgrass or flowering plants (2,11). Wasps foraging on flowers or hunting in turfgrass are easily disturbed further complicating detection [(5), authors observations ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal and Diurnal Activity ofLarra bicolor(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) and Potential Ornamental Plants as Nectar Sources

Abraham

Held

Wheeler

2010

Applied Turfgrass Science

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Larra bicolor was introduced to Florida for biological control of mole crickets (Scapteriscus spp.) and has spread to adjacent states. The objectives of this study were to determine the seasonal and diurnal activity of L. bicolor in its expanded range and to compare ornamental plants as nectar sources. Experiments with colored, pan‐type traps and sugar solutions to monitor for L. bicolor were unsuccessful and direct observations of wasps feeding on flowers or hunting in turfgrass were used to monitor activity. Seasonal activity of L. bicolor was monitored on four sites in coastal Mississippi from 2006‐2008. Wasps are active from June to October and were active later in the season on flowering plants. Diurnal activity on flowering plants was monitored during August and October. Activity began at 0700 h in August and 0900 h in October and continued to near dusk. Populations on flowers were typically male‐biased with numbers of females on flowers being greatest in the afternoon (about 1300 h). Sixteen plant taxa representing nine genera and seven families were evaluated in common garden experiments during 2007 and 2008. Of these, wasps only fed on Pentas lanceolata and Spermacoce verticillata. However, pentas, a popular ornamental, may be a more aesthetic and less problematic alternative to S. verticillata, a weed in turfgrass, as a nectar source for L. bicolor in urban landscapes.

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Nectar Sources for Larra Bicolor (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), a Parasitoid of Scapteriscus Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), in Northern Florida

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 14 publications

References 13 publications

A meta-analysis of physiological and behavioral responses of parasitoid wasps to flowers of individual plant species

A meta-analysis of physiological and behavioral responses of parasitoid wasps to flowers of individual plant species

Nectar-Seeking and Host-Seeking byLarra bicolor(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), a Parasitoid ofScapteriscusMole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Seasonal and Diurnal Activity ofLarra bicolor(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) and Potential Ornamental Plants as Nectar Sources

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