Per arborem ad astra: Morphological adaptations to exploiting the woody habitat in the early evolution of Hymenoptera

Vilhelmsen, Lars; Turrisi, Giuseppe Fabrizio

doi:10.1016/j.asd.2010.10.001

Cited by 59 publications

(58 citation statements)

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“…Host structure and location, as well as the different ways of storing the ovipositor, are arguably the principal factors driving the structural adaptation of these structures (Quicke et al 1999, Vilhelmsen 2000, Vilhelmsen and Turrisi 2011. Major morphological characteristics of ceraphronoid ovipositors are most likely related to these influences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology and function of the ovipositor mechanism in Ceraphronoidea (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

Ernst¹,

István²,

Deans³

2013

JHR

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The ovipositor of apocritan Hymenoptera is an invaluable source of phylogenetically relevant characters, and our understanding of its functional morphology stands to enlighten us about parasitoid life history strategies. Although Ceraphronoidea is one of the most commonly collected Hymenoptera taxa with considerable economic importance, our knowledge about their natural history and phylogenetic relationships, both to other apocritan lineages and within the superfamily itself, is limited. As a first step towards revealing ceraphronoid natural diversity we describe the skeletomuscular system of the ceraphronoid ovipositor for the first time. Dissections and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy 3D media files were used to visualize the ovipositor complex and to develop character concepts. Morphological structures were described in natural language and then translated into a character-character state format, whose terminology was linked to phenotype-relevant ontologies. Four unique anatomical phenotypes were revealed: 1. The first valvifer (gonangulum) of the genus Trassedia is composed of two articulating sclerites, a condition present only in a few basal insect taxa. The bipartition of the first valvifer in Trassedia is most likely secondary and might allow more rapid oviposition. 2. Ceraphronoids, unlike other Hymenoptera, lack the retractor muscle of the terebra; instead the egg laying device is retracted by the seventh sternite. 3. Also unlike other Hymenoptera, the cordate apodeme and the anterior flange of the second valvifer are fused and compose one ridge that serves as the site of attachment for the dorsal and ventral T9-second valvifer muscles. Overall, the ceraphronoid ovipositor system is highly variable and can be described by discrete, distinguishable character states. However, these differences, despite their discrete nature, do not reflect the present classification of the superfamily and might represent parallelisms driven by host biology.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology and function of the ovipositor mechanism in Ceraphronoidea (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

Ernst¹,

István²,

Deans³

2013

JHR

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“…The part retained in the abdomen is then either strongly coiled or telescopically retracted (20,21). In other species, the functional length of the ovipositor is reduced by supporting it by clamping the ovipositor with parts of their hind legs (11,18,22) or with specialized sheaths (1,10,23,24).Little is known about the mechanisms parasitic wasps use for further insertion and buckling prevention of the ovipositor after the initial puncturing of the substrate. Vincent and King (23) hypothesized a mechanism that wasps might use based on the Significance Using slender probes to drill through solids is challenging, but desirable, due to minimal disturbances of the substrate.…”

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“…The valves can slide along each other (5, 7) and do not get dislocated under natural conditions, because they are longitudinally connected via a tongue-and-groove mechanism (5,(8)(9)(10). The ovipositor and the "wasp waist," a constriction of the body between the first and second abdominal segment (11), are essential in probing behavior and are therefore considered to be instrumental in the evolution of the order (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). The shape, structure, and mechanical properties of the ovipositors are putatively adapted to the substrates into which the animals need to probe (6,(16)(17)(18), and because both substrates and hosts are so diverse, this might have resulted in high species diversification of the hymenopterans (13,14).…”

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Mechanisms of ovipositor insertion and steering of a parasitic wasp

Cerkvenik

Straat

Gussekloo

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

111

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Drilling into solid substrates with slender beam-like structures is a mechanical challenge, but is regularly done by female parasitic wasps. The wasp inserts her ovipositor into solid substrates to deposit eggs in hosts, and even seems capable of steering the ovipositor while drilling. The ovipositor generally consists of three longitudinally connected valves that can slide along each other. Alternative valve movements have been hypothesized to be involved in ovipositor damage avoidance and steering during drilling. However, none of the hypotheses have been tested in vivo. We used 3D and 2D motion analysis to quantify the probing behavior of the fruit-fly parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Braconidae) at the levels of the ovipositor and its individual valves. We show that the wasps can steer and curve their ovipositors in any direction relative to their body axis. In a soft substrate, the ovipositors can be inserted without reciprocal motion of the valves. In a stiff substrate, such motions were always observed. This is in agreement with the damage avoidance hypothesis of insertion, as they presumably limit the overall net pushing force. Steering can be achieved by varying the asymmetry of the distal part of the ovipositor by protracting one valve set with respect to the other. Tip asymmetry is enhanced by curving of ventral elements in the absence of an opposing force, possibly due to pretension. Our findings deepen the knowledge of the functioning and evolution of the ovipositor in hymenopterans and may help to improve man-made steerable probes.Diachasmimorpha longicaudata | ovipositor kinematics | buckling avoidance | spatial probing | minimally invasive probe F rom a mechanical perspective, it is very difficult to drill into a solid substrate with a very thin probe, because it can easily bend and break. Parasitic wasps, however, do this regularly when they use their slender ovipositors to search for hosts in solid substrates, such as fruits or even wood (1-3).The general morphology of the ovipositor is similar across all wasp species (4, 5); it consists of four elements, called valves, of which two are often merged such that three functional valves remain (Fig. 1). In most species, the distal part of the ovipositor is morphologically distinct (3, 6), which we will refer to as the tip. The valves can slide along each other (5, 7) and do not get dislocated under natural conditions, because they are longitudinally connected via a tongue-and-groove mechanism (5, 8-10). The ovipositor and the "wasp waist," a constriction of the body between the first and second abdominal segment (11), are essential in probing behavior and are therefore considered to be instrumental in the evolution of the order (11-15). The shape, structure, and mechanical properties of the ovipositors are putatively adapted to the substrates into which the animals need to probe (6,(16)(17)(18), and because both substrates and hosts are so diverse, this might have resulted in high species diversification of the hymenopterans (13,14). Howeve...

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“…7d). Like many other morphological features observed in Hymenoptera pupating in wood, the carina might help the wasp escaping from the wood after eclosion (see Vilhelmsen and Turrisi 2011), probably acting as a brace when the wasp is digging its escape tunnel with the mandibles. A possible analogue occurs in several species of Aulacidae, another family of woodliving parasitoid wasps.…”

Section: Phylogeneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new species of Ophrella Middlekauff, 1985 (Hymenoptera, Orussidae) from French Guiana

Vilhelmsen¹

2016

JHR

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Ophrella seagi sp. n. is described and illustrated from a female and a male collected in French Guiana. Additional Orussidae from this country are listed in an Appendix. The new species differs from other members of Ophrella in a number of features, and the diagnosis of the genus is revised accordingly. A key to Ophrella species is included. The new species is included in a continuously updated morphological data set assembled for the Orussidae and its phylogenetic position discussed.

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Per arborem ad astra: Morphological adaptations to exploiting the woody habitat in the early evolution of Hymenoptera

Cited by 59 publications

References 58 publications

Morphology and function of the ovipositor mechanism in Ceraphronoidea (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

Morphology and function of the ovipositor mechanism in Ceraphronoidea (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

Mechanisms of ovipositor insertion and steering of a parasitic wasp

A new species of Ophrella Middlekauff, 1985 (Hymenoptera, Orussidae) from French Guiana

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