聚集信息素和寄主植物挥发物对光肩星天牛和星天牛的引诱作用

【目的】光肩星天牛Anoplophora glabripennis和星天牛A.chinensis经常混合发生,危害共同的寄主,且共享相同的聚集信息素。本研究旨在评价聚集信息素和寄主植物挥发物对这两种星天牛的引诱作用。【方法】通过取食面积法,测定了两种星天牛对复叶槭Acer negundo、青皮垂柳Salix babylonica和苦楝Media azedarach 3种寄主枝条的室内取食偏好性;采用动态顶空吸附法结合气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析了寄主植物挥发物成分;通过在浙江余姚和慈溪的野外诱捕试验,分析了聚集信息素和植物挥发物对两种星天牛的诱捕效果。【结果】室内选择性和非选择性取食试验结果都显示,光肩星天牛最喜食的寄主植物是复叶槭,其次是青皮垂柳,再次是苦楝;而星天牛对这3种寄主植物的选择顺序与光肩星天牛相反,最喜食苦楝,其次是青皮垂柳,再次是复叶槭。寄主植物挥发物成分中,以萜烯类和芳香族化合物居多,每种寄主挥发物都有几种特有的成分,且不同寄主植物的挥发物中多种成分之间存在显著性差异。野外林间诱捕试验结果显示,聚集信息素与苦楝混合配方MK(4-庚氧基丁醇+4-庚氧基丁醛+莰烯+顺-3-己烯-1-醇+罗勒烯+β-石竹烯)、聚集信息素M(4-庚氧基丁醇+4-庚氧基丁醛)、苦楝配方K(莰烯+顺-3-己烯-1-醇+罗勒烯+β-石竹烯)和柳树配方L(壬醛)都同时诱捕到了光肩星天牛和星天牛。其中,聚集信息素与苦楝混合配方MK对光肩星天牛和星天牛的诱捕效果最好,都表现出比单独使用信息素或者植物挥发物更高的诱捕效果;聚集信息素诱捕到的光肩星天牛和星天牛中雌虫比例更高,而植物挥发物诱捕到的光肩星天牛和星天牛中雄虫比例更高。【结论】本研究进一步证实了聚集信息素4-庚氧基丁醇和4-庚氧基丁醛是光肩星天牛和星天牛共享的信息素;同时,壬醛、莰烯、顺-3-己烯-1-醇、罗勒烯和β-石竹烯是光肩星天牛和星天牛共享的植物挥发物。聚集信息素和植物挥发物联合使用可以应用于光肩星天牛和星天牛的林间监测技术。     

复叶槭挥发性物质的日释放节律及对光肩星天牛引起的行为反应

采用动态顶空采集吸附、热脱附及GC-MS分析的方法,对活体复叶槭(Acer negundo L.)释放的挥发性物质的组成及日释放节律进行了研究.鉴定出复叶槭挥发性物质中的32种化合物成份,包括醛类、醇类、酮类、酯类、脂肪酸类、萜烯类等.日释放节律研究表明,在7月份主要挥发性物质释放高峰集中于14时左右,而8月份则提前到10时左右.虽然在7月份和8月份采样时保持条件一致,但所释放的挥发性物质在种类及相对含量上有明显的不同,这很可能与复叶槭不同时期的生长状况及叶片的衰老有关.在田间采用诱捕器研究了光肩星天牛对上述挥发性物质的行为反应.田间试验结果表明,与其它挥发物相比,顺-3-己烯-1-醇在田间对光肩星天牛具有更强的引诱活性;由1-丁醇,1-戊醇和2-戊醇混合而成的混合物具有最强的引诱活性.     

复叶槭挥发性物质的日释放节律及对光肩星天牛引起的行为反应

采用动态顶空采集吸附,热脱附及GC-MS分析的方法。对活性复叶槭（Acer negundoL.)释放的挥发性物质的组成及日释放节律进行了研究。鉴定出复叶槭挥发性物质中的32种化合物成份。包括醛类,醇类,酮类,酯类,脂肪酸类,萜烯类等。日释放节律研究表明,在7月份主要挥发性物质释放高峰集中于14时左右。而8月份则提前到10时左右。虽然在7月份和8月份采样时保持条件一致。但所释放的挥发性物质在种类及相对含量上有明显的不同,这很可能与复叶槭不同时期的生长状况及叶片的衰老有关。在田间采用诱捕器研究了光肩星天牛对上述挥发性物质的行为反应。田间试验结果表明,与其它挥发物相比,顺-3-己烯-1-醇在田间对光肩是天牛具有更强的引诱活性。由1-丁醇,1-戊醇和2-戊醇混合而成的混合物具有最强的引诱活性。     

茉莉酸甲酯喷施和光肩星天牛（Anoplophora glabripennis(Motschulsky)咬食后五角枫释放的挥发物

茉莉酸甲酯喷施和光肩星天牛(Anoplophora glabripennis(Motschulsky)咬食后五角枫(Acer mono Maxim.)植株均诱导产生了乙酸丁酯、2-壬醇、乙酸己酯、3-甲基-2-丁醇、1-辛烯、里那醇、3-蒈烯、1-丁醇、(Z)-2-己烯醛9种正常植株中没有检测到的挥发物。两种处理均诱导或促进了萜烯类、醇类和醛类挥发物的大量释放,且乙酸-3-己烯酯、乙酸乙酯、己醇、反-2-己烯醇、乙基己醇、1-辛烯、石竹烯、法尼烯等挥发物的时序变化趋势也非常相似。因而推测光肩星天牛咬食五角枫后在植物体内诱导产生了茉莉酸信号传导途径。     

星天牛不同为害状态下山核桃挥发物成分的GC-EAD和行为反应

【目的】为了挖掘对星天牛Anoplophora chinensis有行为反应的山核桃Juglans mandshurica挥发物。【方法】采用动态顶空套袋吸附法收集不同为害状态[健康(CK)、天牛取食、产卵和钻蛀后]山核桃释放的挥发物,并运用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)、气相色谱-触角电位测量系统(GC-EAD)及"Y"型嗅觉仪技术分析鉴定出对星天牛产生电生理及行为反应的挥发物。【结果】GC-EAD反应结果表明:星天牛成虫对不同为害状态下山核桃释放的挥发物中的蒎烯、罗勒烯、对二乙苯、萜品烯、壬醛、α-萜品醇、五甲基苯、丙烯酸-2-乙基己酯、2,6-二甲基萘以及正十六烷10种挥发物产生显著的触角电位反应,对其他挥发物无反应,其中蒎烯和罗勒烯的反应较强。嗅觉反应结果表明:蒎烯仅对星天牛雄虫产生显著的引诱作用(P≤0.05),罗勒烯对星天牛雌雄虫产生极显著的引诱作用(P≤0.01);丙烯酸-2-乙基己酯对星天牛雌虫产生显著的驱避作用(P≤0.05),对二乙苯仅对星天牛雄虫产生显极著的驱避作用(P≤0.01),壬醛对星天牛雄虫产生显著的驱避作用(P≤0.05)。【结论】本研究结果表明,罗勒烯对星天牛雌成虫产生较强的引诱作用,而丙烯酸-2-乙基己酯对其雌成虫产生较好的驱避作用;蒎烯和罗勒烯对星天牛雄成虫产生较强的引诱作用,而对二乙苯和壬醛则对其雄成虫产生较好的驱避作用。     

两种对云斑天牛有林间诱捕效果的植物源物质

【目的】为了探明对云斑天牛Batocera horsfieldi(Hope)有效的引诱物质。【方法】研究了云斑天牛对白蜡树、山核桃、黄山栾树和野蔷薇4种寄主植物的室内取食偏好性,采用动态顶空吸附法结合气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析了植物挥发物成分,然后利用触角电位-气相色谱联用技术(GC-EAD)测定植物挥发物对云斑天牛触角的反应,最后对相关化合物进行了野外诱捕试验。【结果】结果表明:云斑天牛最喜欢取食的寄主植物是白蜡树,其次是黄山栾树和山核桃,野蔷薇没有取食;寄主植物挥发物成分中,萜烯类和烷烃类等物质占主要成分,不同寄主植物的挥发物中多种成分存在显著性差异;壬醛引起了云斑天牛显著的GC-EAD反应;最后,林间诱捕试验结果显示,顺-3-己烯醇和壬醛分别在林间诱捕到了一定量的云斑天牛,并且都是雄虫,同时顺-3-己烯醇还诱捕到了星天牛Anoplophora chinensis(Forster)。【结论】试验结果说明,顺-3-己烯醇和壬醛是两种对云斑天牛具有林间引诱效果的植物源物质,同时,顺-3-己烯醇是云斑天牛和星天牛共享的植物源引诱物质。     

不同危害状态下寄主山核桃挥发物成分的比较及桑天牛对其组分的GC-EAD和行为反应

【目的】挖掘能影响桑天牛Apriona germari行为反应的山核桃Juglans mandshurica挥发物,为筛选桑天牛的植物源引诱剂或驱避剂提供理论依据。【方法】采用动态顶空套袋法收集不同危害状态[健康(CK)以及桑天牛取食、产卵和钻蛀危害]下山核桃释放的挥发物,并利用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)、气相色谱-触角电位测量系统(GC-EAD)及Y型嗅觉仪分析鉴定出桑天牛成虫对其产生电生理及行为反应的挥发物。【结果】不同危害状态下山核桃释放的挥发物皆以萜烯类和芳香族化合物居多,且有多种成分相对含量存在显著性差异,其中每种危害状态下山核桃释放的挥发物都有一种或几种特有的成分。桑天牛成虫仅对不同危害状态下山核桃释放的蒎烯、乙酸叶醇酯、壬醛、α-萜品醇、丙烯酸-2-乙基己酯及正十六烷6种挥发物产生显著的电生理反应,对其他挥发物无反应,其中雌成虫对壬醛的电生理反应最强,而雄成虫对乙酸叶醇酯的电生理反应最强。嗅觉反应结果显示,丙烯酸-2-乙基己酯仅对桑天牛雌成虫有显著的引诱作用(P0.05),而乙酸叶醇酯则仅对雄成虫有极显著的引诱作用(P0.01);壬醛对桑天牛雌雄成虫均有显著的引诱作用(P0.05),而α-萜品醇则对其有显著的驱避作用(P0.05)。【结论】本研究结果表明,乙酸叶醇酯、壬醛和丙烯酸-2-乙基己酯对桑天牛成虫有较强的引诱作用,而α-萜品醇则对其有较好的驱避作用。     

花绒寄甲辨别光肩星天牛蛀食不同树木所产生虫粪的挥发性化学信号

光肩星天牛(Anoplophora glabripennis)危害多种阔叶树种,曾对"三北"防护林造成重大灾害。花绒寄甲(Dastarcus helophoroides)对光肩星天牛取食不同寄主树如杨树、柳树、榆树和槭树后排出的虫粪表现出不同的趋向性,但对槭树的虫粪未表现出趋向性。为了阐明花绒寄甲成虫差异性趋向选择机制,我们采用动态顶空吸附技术收集不同寄主树的虫粪挥发物,利用气相色谱、固相微萃取-气相色谱-质联仪对虫粪中单萜、倍半萜进行定性定量分析。结果表明,萜烯类是虫粪挥发物的主要成分,且源自不同寄主树木虫粪的萜烯释放量相差显著。检测到的所有化合物中,只有α-古巴烯在源于复叶槭的光肩星天牛虫粪中含量极微,而在源于其他5种寄主树的虫粪中含量均较大。在进一步的Y型嗅觉仪生测实验中,α-古巴烯能够显著地吸引花绒寄甲。α-古巴烯可能是花绒寄甲辨别取食不同寄主树的光肩星天牛虫粪的重要信号化合物。     

光肩星天牛种组研究现状

评述了我国光肩星天牛种组种类的外部形态和外生殖器主要鉴别特征、寄主、地理分布、起源及其演化。光肩星天牛主要分布在山西吕粱山、太行山以东的广大平原地区 ,寄主广泛 ,主要有榆、复叶槭、杨、柳、五角枫等。黄斑星天牛主要分布在秦岭以北 ,山西吕粱山、太行山以西的陕甘宁地区 ,向东已扩展到河南、河北 ;主要危害杨树 ,也为害柳、榆。四川星天牛主要分布于秦岭以南的云、贵、川地区 ,主要危害柳树 ;在这里至今还没有发现光肩星天牛和黄斑星天牛。     

新疆主要造林树种对光肩星天牛的抗性

利用网室接种和树干套笼接种光肩星天牛Anoplophora glabripennis(Motschulsky)成虫的方法,于2005年～2006年在新疆光肩星天牛的发生疫区,进行10种主要造林树种对其抗性的测定试验。结果显示:2种接种试验结果基本一致,各试验树种都不同程度地受到光肩星天牛的危害,表现出不同的抗虫性。根据孵化幼虫数综合分析,判断出试验树种的抗性高低的顺序为:桑树、沙枣>胡杨、圆冠榆、新疆杨、白榆、箭杆杨>复叶槭、旱柳、馒头柳。另外根据网室内试验树种上出现的羽化孔判断,光肩星天牛在新疆巴音郭楞蒙古自治州1年发生1代。     

Influence of rearing hosts on host size acceptance by Trichogramma australicum

We investigated the acceptance of different sized host models by Trichogramma australicum in the laboratory. We used isoline cultures of T. australicum reared in hosts of different sizes. Helicoverpa armigera represent relatively large hosts, and those of Sitotroga cerealella are small, termed the Ha and Sc biotypes, respectively. Five sizes of glass beads were tested for acceptance: diameter 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm. The acceptance of a host model was determined by persistent attempted drilling of a glass bead by a female. The relationship between host egg size and number of eggs laid by a female was also investigated. We used three sizes of artificial egg (diameter 0.75, 1.00, and 1.50 mm of hemispherical cupules) each containing artificial diet. Ha biotype wasps accepted host models in the range 0.75--1.50 mm dia. (vol. 0.166--1.325 l), whereas those of the Sc biotype accepted host models in the range 0.50--1.00 mm dia. (vol. 0.05--0.393 l). This evidence suggests a lineal (possibly genetic) influence to host size acceptance for T. australicum, dependent on the size of the host in which the wasp has been reared. Also T. australicum lay fewer eggs in smaller artificial eggs than in larger ones. The role of host size in host acceptance and number of eggs delivered, and its implications, is discussed.     

Local variation in the thistle species Cirsium grayanum affects its utilization by the herbivorous ladybird beetle Henosepilachna niponica

Host plants are the most critical environmental factor for phytophagous arthropods. Adaptation to a novel host will alter the distributional range of an herbivore to include the area the novel host covers, and might promote divergence between populations utilizing the old and new hosts. On the Oshima Peninsula, Hokkaido Island, northern Japan, the ladybird beetle Henosepilachna niponica (Lewis) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) usually occurs exclusively on the thistle Cirsium alpicola Nakai (Asteraceae), which is distributed in the southernmost part of the island, although some other Cirsium species often grow in sympatry. At least at one site (Assabu), however, H. niponica depends on another thistle, Cirsium grayanum (Maxim.) Nakai, the most abundant and widely distributed thistle species on the Oshima Peninsula. We examined adult feeding acceptance and preference, and larval performance, in two populations of H. niponica that utilize different species of thistles (the Assabu population occurs on C. grayanum; the Shiriuchi population, on C. alpicola) by testing three kinds of thistles (C. grayanum from Assabu, C. grayanum from Shiriuchi, and C. alpicola from Shiriuchi). Results strongly suggested that among the three plants tested, C. grayanum from Assabu was the most suitable host for H. niponica. We concluded that local differences in C. grayanum mainly explain why it is not used at Shiriuchi, but that there are also local differences in host use among the beetle populations, suggesting some degree of local adaptation. This suggests that different selective regimes associated with different host plants might promote divergence among beetle populations. We conclude that H. niponica is at present unlikely to expand its range to the whole range of C. grayanum.     

Presence of two host races of Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) collected in Turkey

The aphid, Aphis gossypii, is a primary pest of citrus, cotton, cucurbits and greenhouse‐grown vegetables in Turkey and throughout Europe. There is some previous empirical data suggesting that host‐adapted genotypes of this aphid exist which may in fact be host‐races. To determine if host races of A. gossypii are indeed present in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, reciprocal host transfer experiments and life table analyses were performed with multiple asexual lineages (= clones) of the aphid collected from different hosts. The collection hosts included citrus, cucumber, eggplant, okra, sweet pepper and cotton. Aphid developmental times on the host from which the aphid was originally collected (= collection or natal host) were shorter (5.2–6.0 days) and had a higher intrinsic rate of population growth (r_m = 0.25–0.44) than the 6.6–7.3 days required when the aphid was reared on a non‐original collection host (= non‐collection host or non‐natal host) and had r_m = 0.03–0.30. Total immature mortality of the cotton clone, especially in the first nymphal stage, was high (51–100%) with low r_m (0–0.03) on cucumber, citrus and sweet pepper. Aphid populations transferred from citrus, eggplant and okra to cotton (r_m = 0.29–0.30) did not differ significantly in their performance from that of the cotton population on cotton (r_m = 0.34), whereas that from sweet pepper and cucumber populations (r_m = 0.22–0.24) were significantly lower. These data have allowed us to separate A. gossypii into two distinct biological groups: (a) a ‘generalist’ population obtained from cucumber, sweet pepper, citrus, eggplant and okra which exhibited statistically better development on cotton; versus (b) a population from cotton which, by comparison on reciprocal hosts, developed poorly on non‐natal hosts except on eggplant. Development of the cotton clone on cucumber and okra was not improved after four successive generations on the non‐natal host. The good development of A. gossypii from eggplant and cotton on these reciprocal hosts suggests that these particular clones were similar, if not identical, host races.     

The metazoan parasites of swordfish from Atlantic tropical–equatorial waters

The metazoan parasite fauna composition of the swordfish Xiphias gladius is reported from 145 (72 females and 73 males) specimens caught in Atlantic tropical–equatorial waters during June to July 2006 and August 2007. Seventeen metazoan taxa (two monogeneans, two digeneans, one acanthocephalan, four cestodes, seven nematodes and one copepod) were identified by morphological and genetic methodologies. Among those identified, Anisakis brevispiculata, Anisakis paggiae and the acanthocephalan Bolbosoma vasculosum are new host records. Dominant species were: the anisakid nematode larvae Anisakis physeteris, Anisakis brevispiculata, Hysterothylacium incurvum and Hysterothylacium corrugatum (s.l.), the adult cestode Fistulicola plicatus, the plerocercoid Hepatoxylon squali and the monogeneans Tristoma integrum and Tristoma coccineum, which showed high prevalences and intensities. The relationship between metazoan parasites and host size and sex was investigated for the first time. No statistically significant correlation was found between host sex and parasite burden. Infection levels with T. integrum and T. coccineum were observed to be significantly negatively correlated to host size. Infection levels by endoparasites observed in X.gladius from Atlantic tropical‐equatorial area may be related to host feeding behaviour and the availability of the parasites’ intermediate and final hosts in the area studied. Anisakids of the genus Anisakis, were identified genetically to species level, and were considered to be promising biological tags for the characterization of X.gladius stocks.     

Parasitism,host feeding and immature development of Encarsia formosa reared from Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci on Trialeurodes ricini

Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a thelytokous parasitoid, is an important biological control agent of whiteflies because of its outstanding reproduction and host‐feeding ability. In this study, we evaluated the parasitism, host feeding and developmental time of E. formosa populations reared on Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (EFT) or on Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (EFB) when different nymphal instars of the castor whitefly, Trialeurodes ricini (Misra), were offered as hosts, with an aim to understand the preference of the parasitoid on nymphal instars of T. ricini. Experiments were conducted on castor bean plants at 26 ± 2°C, 50–60% RH and 16 : 8 (L : D) photoperiod. The results showed that E. formosa successfully oviposited and fed on all nymphal instars of T. ricini. However, numbers of the first instars fed on by the E. formosa populations reared on T. vaporariorum (EFT) and B. tabaci (EFB) were significantly greater (45.9 and 31.3, respectively) than those of the second (EFT: 30.4 and EFB: 15.8), the third (EFT: 22.4 and EFB: 13.2) and the fourth nymphal instars (EFT: 6.0 and EFB: 3.8). The number of T. ricini nymphs parasitized by E. formosa varied significantly among different instars, and the parasitism rates on the first instar (EFT: 15.2; EFB: 7.7) and fourth instar (EFT: 19.3; EFB: 4.9) were greater than those on the second and third instars. Encarsia formosa reared on T. vaporariorum had a significantly higher host feeding and ovipositing potential on T. ricini than EFB. When parasitizing the fourth instar nymphs, E. formosa completed development in a significantly shorter time (12.9 day) than when ovipositing in other instars (17.8–19.1 day). These results showed that EFT had a better host adaption than EFB. The information from this study should be useful for us to better understand the performance and nymphal preference of E. formosa from T. vaporariorum and B. tabaci when they parasitized and fed on T. ricini, and the interactions of parasitoids with different host whitefly species.     

Effects of host stages and temperature on population parameters of Oomyzus sokolowskii, a larval-pupal parasitoid of Plutella xylostella

Oomyzus sokolowskii is alarval-pupal parasitoid of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. In a host stage preference test, the parasitoid parasitised all larval and pupal stages, but exhibited a strong preference for larvaeover prepupae or pupae, and did not show a preference among the larval instars. At 25°C, the developmental time, number and sex ratio of offspring per host pupa, and successful parasitism did not differ significantly among parasitoids reared from host larvae of different instars, indicating similar host suitability between larvae of different instars. Mean developmental times from egg to adult at 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 32.5, and 35°C were 26.5,21.0, 16.0, 12.7, 11.9 and 13.4 days, respectively. The favourable temperature range for development, survival, and reproduction of the parasitoid was 20--30°C. However, wasps that developed and emerged at a favourable temperature could parasitise effectively at 32--35°C for 24 hours. Life-fertility table studies at 20, 25, and 30°C showed that each female wasp on average parasitised 3.1, 13.2, 6.8 larvae of diamondback moth and produced 20.5, 92.1, 50.4 offspring, respectively, during her lifetime. The highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m) of 0.263 female/day was reached at 30°C as a result of the short mean generation time at this temperature compared to that at 20 and 25°C, suggesting that the parasitoid had the highest potential for population growth at relatively high temperatures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Factors determining the host plant range of the phytophagous mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae): a method for quantifying host plant acceptance

The host plant acceptance of the phytophagous mite Tetranychus urticae was experimentally quantified. Host plant acceptance is described as the proportion of adult females settling on the test plant on which they have been placed. On the other hand, the host plant suitability of T. urticae on different plant species is expressed as the mean number of eggs produced by the females within 5 days (hereafter 'fecundity'). An inbred T. urticae line was tested with regard to host plant acceptance and fecundity on 11 potential host plants. These two variables were positively correlated across host plants; host plant species on which the fecundity was low were also those on which females settled less readily compared to host plants with high fecundity. The characteristics of host plant acceptance of the T. urticae are discussed in light of their potential food resource under natural conditions.     

Parasitic worms: strategies of host finding, recognition and invasion

Many parasitic worms enter their hosts by active invasion. Their transmission success is often based on a mass production of invasive stages. However, most stages show a highly specific host-finding behaviour. Information on host-finding mechanisms is available mainly for trematode miracidia and cercariae and for nematode hookworms. The larvae find and recognise their hosts, in some cases even with species specificity, via complex sequences of behavioural patterns with which they successively respond to various environmental and host cues. There is often a surprisingly high diversity of host-recognition strategies. Each parasite species finds and enters its host using a different series of cues. For example, different species of schistosomes enter the human skin using different recognition sequences. The various recognition strategies may reflect adaptations to distinct ecological conditions of transmission. Another question is how, after invasion, parasitic worms find their complex paths through their host's tissues to their often very specific microhabitats. Recent data show that the migrating parasite stages can follow local chemical gradients of skin and blood compounds, but their long-distance navigation within the host body still remains puzzling.

The high complexity, specificity and diversity of host-recognition strategies suggest that host finding and host recognition are important determinants in the evolution of parasite life cycles.     

Does mother really know best? Oviposition preference reduces reproductive performance in the generalist parasitoid Aphidius ervi

The reproductive success of female parasitoids is dependent on their ability to accurately assess the suitability of a host for larval development. For generalist parasitoids, which utilize a broad range of species and instars as hosts, a set of assessment criteria determines whether a host is accepted or rejected. The suitability of a host, however, can only be imperfectly assessed by the female parasitoid, which can result in the selection of lesser quality hosts for oviposition. In this study we explored the disparity between host quality and host preference using the generalist koinobiotic parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) and the host Aulacorthum solani (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae), the foxglove aphid. The second instar hosts produced the highest level of reproductive success, while third and fourth instars resulted in a substantially reduced reproductive performance. When given a choice of host instars, parasitoids preferred the older hosts for oviposition disregarding their reduced suitability for larval development. Results are discussed in context of mechanisms involved in A. ervi host selection and biases in the criteria used to assess hosts that may arise when parasitoids transfer host species between generations.     

Effect of temperature on the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis spp.) to Delia radicum

Susceptibility of last instarlarvae of Delia radicum to Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae,S. arenarium, Heterorhabditismegidis and H. bacteriophora wasevaluated in the laboratory at 10 °C,15 °C and 20 °C. S. feltiaewas the only species that killed the larvae at10 °C; S. carpocapsae, S.arenarium and H. megidis were effectiveat 15–20 °C whereas H.bacteriophora killed the maggot only at20 °C. The temperature significantlyaffected the host searching ability of alltested species. Mobility was reduced at lowtemperatures. Significant effects of the hostpresence on nematode mobility were found forS. feltiae, S. arenarium and H. megidis but not for S. carpocapsaeand H. bacteriophora. The dynamics of theattachment to and penetration into the hostwere monitored for S. feltiae at10 °C, 15 °C or 20 °C and forS. carpocapsae at 20 °C. In theperiod of 6–30 hours after inoculation, S.carpocapsae attached in higher number at20 °C than did S. feltiae at alltemperatures. At 20 °C, S.carpocapsae penetrated the host only after 30hours while S. feltiae penetrated alreadyafter 15, 9, 6 hours at 10 °C,15 °C and 20 °C, respectively.