אסיף מאגר המחקר החקלאי

Development and encapsulation of the endoparasitoid, Microplitis croceipes (Hym.: Braconidae), in six candidate host species (Lep.)

Year:

1994

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Volume :

39

Co-Authors:

Blumberg, D., Insect Attractants, Behavior, Basic Biology Research Laboratory Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Gainesville, Florida, 32604, United States
Ferkovich, S.M., Insect Attractants, Behavior, Basic Biology Research Laboratory Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Gainesville, Florida, 32604, United States

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Abstract:

Encapsulation and development of the endoparasitoid, Microplitis croceipes (Cresson), were studied in six atypical lepidopteran host species whose usual host is Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). The candidate hosts examined were: the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith); the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner); the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner); the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.); the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner); and the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Both S. exigua and T. ni were completely unsuitable for M. croceipes development due to the high rate of eggs that were encapsulated within three days after parasitism. Encapsulation in S. frugiperda included mainly parasitoid eggs and was first detected six days after parasitization at 25°C and two days at 30°C. Encapsulation in G. mellonella occurred only in the larval stage of the parasitoid. In P. interpunctella, parasitoid larvae reached the 3rd stadium, but none of them pupated. Only S. frugiperda and G. mellonella supported successful development of M. croceipes from egg to adult. The percentage of parasitoids reaching the adult stage in these hosts was higher at 30°C than at 25°C (13% vs. 4% in S. frugiperda, and 21% vs. 3% in G. mellonella, respectively). However, these percentages were too low to substitute them as a more economical host for rearing M. croceipes. This biological information will be useful in additional laboratory studies directed toward reducing the rate of encapsulation (e.g., manipulation of host rearing temperature) to increase production of M. croceipes on these hosts. © 1994 Lavoisier Abonnements.

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