Search results for "PARASITOID"
showing 10 items of 185 documents
Large-scale migration synchrony between parasitoids and their host
2015
1. Parasitoids are a valuable group for conservation biological control. In their role as regulators of aphid pests, it is critical that their lifecycle is synchronised with their hosts in both space and time. This is because a synchronised parasitoid community is more likely to strengthen the overall conservation biological control effect, thus damping aphid numbers and preventing potential outbreaks. One component of this host–parasitoid system was examined, that of migration, and the hypothesis that peak summer parasitoid and host migrations are synchronised in time was tested. 2. Sitobion avenae Fabricius and six associated parasitoids were sampled from 1976 to 2013 using 12.2-m suction…
Description ofPauesia (Pauesia)anatolica (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) sp. nov., a parasitoid of the cedar aphidCinara cedri
2005
The first parasitoid species reared from a population of the cedar aphid,Cinara cedri Mimeur, 1935 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), from the peninsula of Anatolia in Turkey is described.Pauesia anatolica (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) is closely related to some species of thelaricis group ofPauesia from which it differs in the number of antenomers, the propodeum and features of the female genitalia. Its potential use as a natural enemy in areas where the aphid has been introduced is discussed.
Qualitative Analysis of Aphid and Primary Parasitoid Trophic Relations of Genus <I>Alloxysta</I> (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae: Cha…
2014
Charipinae hyperparasitoids affect effectiveness of the primary parasitoids of aphids by decreasing their abundance and modifying their behavior. As a result, increase of aphid populations can cause severe yield losses in some crops. Therefore, ecological studies on the subfamily Charipinae have a great economical and biological importance. Host specificity of these hyperparasitoids is still under debate and for many Charipinae species very little is known about their trophic relations. Here, we give a comprehensive overview of the trophic relationships between the Charipinae species of the genus Alloxysta Forster and their aphid and primary parasitoids hosts, worldwide. Within this subfami…
The role of contact chemoreception in the host location process of an egg parasitoid
2016
Taste allows insects to detect palatable or toxic foods, identify a mate, and select appropriate oviposition sites. The gustatory system strongly contributes to the survival and reproductive success of many species, yet it is rarely studied in insect parasitoids. In order to locate and assess a host in which they will lay their eggs, female wasps actively search for chemical cues using their sensory organs present mainly on the antennae. In this paper, we studied the role of antennal taste sensilla chaetica in the perception of contact semiochemicals in Trissolcus brochymenae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), an egg parasitoid of the brassicaceae pest Murgantia histrionica (Heteroptera: Pentat…
OLIVE FRUIT FLY: A threat to the South African olive industry?
2015
Olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) is the most serious pest of cultivated olives in the Mediterranean basin. to date we have not seen the same level of damage in south africa, but the question remained whether it poses a similar threat as the local olive industry expands. From this study it is clear that the climatic con- ditions during the period preceding harvest are un- favourable for rapid population growth of OFF in the Western Cape, in contrast to conditions in the coastal area of Trapani province in Sicily. Climate, and not parasitism, appears to be the main factor limiting OFF population levels in the Western Cape. While sporadic outbreaks of economically damaging OFF infestations c…
The role of plant volatiles in prediction of floral resource suitability: chemical ecology to enhance conservation biological control.
2015
Plants emit substantial amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which represent a decisive communication channel, governing essential decisions insect have to make, such as choice of food. Understanding these interactions is critically important in Habitat Management and in a broader view in Conservation Biological Control. Suitable flower species must enhance the survival and fecundity of natural enemies but in addition they also need to be highly attractive and thus frequently visited. To date few examples exist that have considered both criteria. In this study we tested the effects of the flowering plants alyssum (Lobularia maritima), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), French marigol…
Hymenoptera Chalcidoidea inhabiting galls of Cynipidae in Jordan
2009
Twenty-three species of Chalcidoidea (5 Eurytomidae, 4 Torymidae, 2 Ormyridae, 5 Pteromalidae and 7 Eulophidae) are recorded as regular members of the parasitoid fauna inhabiting galls of Cynipidae in Jordan. The occurrence of three additional species, probably only facultatively associated with cynipid galls, is noted. Twenty-two out of the total 26 species were previously unrecorded in the country, while 13 of them are also new for the entire Middle East. Eighteen new host records were detected, together with 24 new plant-parasitoid associations. The biology of each species is briefly commented upon, as well as the presence of a host-related colour variation in some species.
Chemo-orientation responses in hymenopteran parasitoids induced by substrate-borne semiochemicals
2013
Hymenopteran parasitoids can utilize substrate-borne semiochemicals released by conspecifics or by their hosts, increasing the likelihood of successful mating and host location. According to the literature, two substrate-borne chemo-orientation patterns can occur: (1) biased random searching, a non-directional reaction toward the chemicals (kinesis), and (2) trailfollowing searching, a directional response toward the source emitting the chemical compounds (taxis). These two different strategies can be adopted by parasitoids to locate hosts and mates. In host location, random searching is induced by allelochemicals indirectly associated with the host, whereas trail-following behavior is indu…
Identification of volatile synomones, induced by Nezara viridula feeding and oviposition on bean spp., that attract the egg parasitoid Trissolcus bas…
2004
Bean plants ( Vicia faba L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L.) damaged by feeding activity of Nezara viridula (L.) ( Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), and onto which an egg mass had been laid, produced volatiles that attracted the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Extracts of volatiles of broad bean and French bean plants induced by adults of N. viridula as a result of their feeding activity, oviposition activity, and feeding and oviposition activity combined were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and tested in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays as attractants for T. basalis females. In extracts from undamaged leguminous plants, green-leaf volati…
The Anagyrus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitoids of the obscure mealybug Pseudococcus viburni (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Spain, with descriptio…
2021
The presence of three species of the genus Anagyrus Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitizing the obscure mealybug Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in agricultural ecosystems of citrus, persimmon and ornamental plants from Eastern Spain is recorded. Anagyrus aligarhensis Agarwal & Alam is recorded for the first time as parasitoid on this mealybug. Anagyrus fusciventris (Girault) is a new record for Spain. Anagyrus borrianensis sp. nov., reared as a specific primary parasitoid of this mealybug, is described and illustrated. The joint presence of Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault) and Anagyrus vladimiri Triapitsyn on citrus crops is confirmed. A key to species o…