Pathogens of Ips amitinus: new species and comparison with Ips typographus

Ips amitinus and I. typographus are two serious pests of spruce in Europe, have similar bionomics and are likely to occur and meet on the same host trees. We therefore hypothesized that the two species support similar levels of similar pathogens. To test this hypothesis, we collected mature beetles from three trap trees at each of eight study sites and determined beetle numbers and pathogen infection levels. In total, 938 mature I. amitinus beetles and 3435 of I. typographus were dissected; five pathogens, as well as intestinal nematodes and endoparasitoids, were detected. The neogregarine Mattesia schwenkei is reported here for the first time as a new pathogen in 9.4% of I. amitinus individuals at one site. Average infection levels of most pathogens (Chytridiopsis typographi, Gregarina typographi, Mattesia schwenkei and parasitoids) were significantly higher in I. typographus than in I. amitinus. Metschnikowia typographi was confirmed only in Ips amitinus, while the microsporidium of Nosema typographi occurred only in I. typographus. Within‐season increases in G. typographi infection levels were documented in Ips amitinus.     

Evolutionary constraints on polyembryony in parasitic wasps: a simulation model

Polyembryony involves the production of several genetically identical progeny from a single egg through clonal division. Although polyembryonic development allows highly efficient reproduction, especially in some parasitoid wasps, it is far less common than monoembryony (development of one embryo per egg). To understand what might constrain the evolutionary success of polyembryony in parasitoids, we developed Monte Carlo models that simulate the competition between polyembryonic females and their monoembryonic counterparts. We investigated which simulated life‐history traits of the females allow the monoembryonic mode of development to succeed. Published empirical studies were surveyed to explore whether these traits indeed differ between polyembryonic parasitoids and related monoembryonic species. The simulations predict an advantage to monoembryony in parasitoids whose reproduction is limited by host availability rather than by egg supply, and that parasitize small‐bodied hosts. Comparative data on the parasitoid families Encyrtidae and (to a lesser extent) Braconidae, but not the data from Platygastridae, circumstantially support these predictions. The model also predicts monoembryony to outcompete polyembryony when: 1) hosts vary considerably in quality, 2) polyembryonic development carries high physiological costs, and 3) monoembryonic females make optimal clutch size decisions upon attacking hosts. These multiple constraints may account for the rarity of polyembryony among parasitoid species.     

Parasitism of Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in different farming systems and altitudes of Mount Elgon,Uganda

Altitude and farming system play a vital role in modifying the niche for arthropods, by directly influencing microclimatic conditions, the quality and quantity of vegetative cover, which act variably on the behaviour of the pests, and their natural enemies. The objective of the study was to determine their effect on the abundance and parasitism of the Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) in the Mount Elgon region. Altitude was categorized as: low (1,400–1,499 m.a.s.l); mid (1,500‐1,679 m.a.s.l); and high (1,680–2,100 m.a.s.l), and farming system was categorized as: Coffee monocrop; Coffee + annual; Coffee + banana; and Coffee + banana + shade trees. For each altitudinal range, each farming system was represented three times. The study was in two districts of the Mt. Elgon, covering a total of 72 Arabica Coffee study sites. The work involved field pest infestation inventories, followed by laboratory rearing for the abundance and parasitism studies. The results revealed highly significant interactions between altitude and farming system in influencing the abundance of the pest and its four parasitoids: Phymastichus coffea, Cephalonomia stephanoderis, Prorops nasuta and Heterospilus coffeicola. C. stephanoderis was highest in the mid‐altitudes within Coffee + banana+shade tree system; P. nasuta was highest at high altitude within Coffee + banana system; P. coffea was most abundant at mid‐altitude within Coffee + banana system, whereas H. coffeicola was highest at high altitude within the Coffee + annual cropping system. H. hampei counts were highest at low altitudes, especially in the Coffee + annual system. Some of these trends can be explained by the condition of the microclimate in the Coffee fields. There was a negative relationship between temperature and abundance of all the four parasitoids. Only C. stephanoderis had a relationship (+) with semi‐natural vegetation species counts. And only H. coffeicola had a relationship (+) with light intensity. These contrasted with H. hampei, which was positively related to temperature and negatively to light intensity.     

三唑类杀菌剂对三种赤眼蜂成蜂的急性毒性及风险评估

【目的】明确三唑类杀菌剂对天敌赤眼蜂Trichogramma spp.的影响。【方法】在室内采用药膜法测定了其对稻螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead、亚洲玉米螟赤眼蜂T. ostriniae Pang et Chen和拟澳洲赤眼蜂T. confusum Viggiani成蜂的急性毒性,并进行了风险评估。【结果】急性毒性测定结果表明,在测定的6种三唑类药剂中,氟环唑急性毒性最高,对稻螟赤眼蜂、拟澳洲赤眼蜂和亚洲玉米螟赤眼蜂的LC₅₀分别为12.38(11.34~13.60),12.34 (10.34~15.07) 和41.12 (37.75~45.05) mg a.i/L;其次为苯醚甲环唑和种菌唑,这两种药剂对上述3种赤眼蜂的LC₅₀在507.14 (464.79~556.48)~2 246.93 (1 866.65~2 755.12) mg a.i/L之间;而环丙唑醇、戊唑醇和己唑醇对3种赤眼蜂的毒性最低,其LC₅₀在5 970.03 (5 062.21~7 093.93)~11 712.34(9 941.23~14 026.12) mg a.i/L之间。氟环唑对3种赤眼蜂为低风险性,安全性系数为0.10~0.34。苯醚甲环唑对拟澳洲赤眼蜂为中等风险性,安全性系数为3.96;而该药剂对稻螟赤眼蜂和亚洲玉米螟赤眼蜂却均为低风险性,安全性系数分别为8.13和7.69。环丙唑醇、己唑醇、戊唑醇和种菌唑对测定的3种赤眼蜂成蜂均为低风险,其安全性系数在7.31~107.74之间。【结论】一些三唑类杀菌剂对赤眼蜂具有急性毒性潜力,在害虫综合治理中应谨慎使用三唑类杀菌剂,尤其是氟环唑,以免对赤眼蜂造成不良影响及危害。     

Odour-mediated long-range avoidance of interspecific competition by a solitary endoparasitoid: a time-saving foraging strategy

1. In studies on optimal foraging strategies, long-range decisions in the pursuit of resource are rarely considered. This is also the case for sympatric parasitoids, which may be confronted with the decision to accept or reject host larvae that are already parasitized by a competing species. They can be expected to reject already parasitized hosts if it is likely that they will lose the resulting intrinsic competition. However, examples of such interspecific host discrimination are rare. 2. We propose that parasitoids that are not egg-limited should reject inferior hosts only if it saves them time, and that this will be achieved mainly when the parasitoids are able to detect competitors from a distance. We tested this hypothesis using the sympatric parasitoids Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) and Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron). 3. C. sonorensis was found to be the superior intrinsic competitor but, upon contact with a host larva, both wasps readily accepted hosts that had already been parasitized by the other species. However, in an olfactometer experiment, C. marginiventris females were found to strongly avoid the odour of their superior competitor. 4. These results are in accordance with a time optimization scenario, whereby the inferior competitor accepts competition if it costs only an egg, but avoids competition if it may save time that can be allocated to the search for more profitable hosts. 5. Models on host discrimination strategies in parasitoids had not yet considered discrimination from a distance. Long-range foraging decisions can also be expected for other organisms that have to choose between resources of varying suitability and profitability.     

The spatio-temporal distribution dynamics of the cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and its larval parasitoids in canola in western Canada

Distribution patterns of the cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and its larval parasitoids were investigated in commercial fields of spring canola (Brassica rapa L. and Brassica napus L.) in southern Alberta, Canada, from 2002 to 2004 in relation to developmental stages of its host plants. Adult weevils invaded fields along one or more fronts when crops were in bud to early flower. Significant clustering of adults along field edges in early stages of invasion was followed by more homogeneous distributions as canola reached the mid to late flowering and pod enlargement stages. Larval weevil distributions, as indicated by exit holes in siliques at the end of the season, were often aligned spatially with adult distributions, but they did not coincide in all regions of the fields. The primary ectoparasitoid species attacking weevil larvae comprised Necremnus tidius (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), and Trichomalus lucidus (Walker), Chlorocytus sp., and Pteromalus sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Parasitism rates increased from 0.1 to 5.0% over the three years of study. Parasitoid distributions were often, but not consistently, spatially associated with high densities of C. obstrictus larvae. Lack of close spatial alignment of parasitoids and their hosts probably reflects low parasitoid numbers in comparison with an abundant resource of weevil larvae, and a lack of co-evolutionary history between host and parasitoids. Some parasitoids invaded fields early in host plant development, at the same time that weevils invaded. Unfortunately the synchronous invasions of host and parasitoids indicate that insecticidal applications to reduce adult weevil infestations may be detrimental to these beneficial species.     

Potential for the use of biological agents for the control of Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) outbreaks

Thrips palmi is a major pest of many crops in the tropics and sub-tropics, and is a serious threat within the protected horticulture industry in other parts of the world including the UK. Widespread use of insecticides against T. palmi throughout the world coupled with the restricted range of products available makes it essential to find alternative systems for control. The scattered information on its natural enemies, particularly predators and parasitoids, is reviewed and their potential for use in the control of T. palmi as part of IPM strategies in the UK is considered. Natural enemies selected for detailed examination include: Amblyseius spp., Anthocoris nemoralis, Atheta coriaria, Bilia spp., Campylomma spp., Ceranisus spp., Deraeocoris spp., Franklinothrips spp., Hypoaspis spp., Orius spp. and Phytoseius spp. Recommendations for further investigations are made, including screening and efficacy testing of candidate predators and parasitoids, using semiochemicals to enhance their effectiveness, and assessing the compatibility of chosen species with other components of an IPM system.     

Population dynamics of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) parasitoids on cassava mosaic disease–resistant and susceptible varieties

Three field trials were conducted at Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute to investigate the population dynamics of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius and its associated aphelinid parasitoids in Uganda. Results showed that more whitefly occurred on the cassava mosaic disease-resistant variety, (Nase 4) compared to the susceptible variety, (Ebwanatereka). Two species of aphelinid parasitoids, Eretmocerus mundus Mercet and Encarsia sophia Girault and Dodd, were identified during the study. Overall percent parasitism did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between varieties in all the trials, but significant differences occurred at 13, 15 and 21 weeks after planting during late season (2000), 18 weeks after planting during early season (2001), and 8 weeks after planting during late season (2001). The trends in the build up in numbers of both parasitoids species and apparent parasitism were similar, differed significantly on certain dates. It was, however, noted that percent parasitism decreased with nymph number. The significance of this phenomenon on the potential use of these aphelinid parasitoids as biocontrol agents of the cassava whitefly is discussed.     

四突跳小蜂亚科二中国新记录属二新种（膜翅目：跳小蜂科）

报道了采自辽宁阜新,黑龙江镜泊湖和云南昆明的跳小蜂,即阔柄杜丝跳小蜂,新种Dusmetia latiscapa Xu,sp．nov、云南蚧狼跳小蜂,新种Gyranusoidea yunnanensis Xu,sp．nov．。对新种进行了详细描述。本也是杜丝跳小蜂属Dusmetia Mercet和蚧狼跳小蜂属Gyranusoidea Compere在我国分布的首次记录。阔柄杜丝跳小蜂,新种Dusmetia latiscapa Xu,sp．nov．寄主：粉蚧。分布：黑龙江(镜泊湖),辽宁(阜新)。本种与Dusmetia cardinalis Hoffer,1969相似,有以下几点区别：(1)本种索节第4节端部和第5、6节为白色,后索节3-6节为白色;(2)本种柄节长为宽的2．7倍,后柄节长为宽的5倍;(3)本种前翅完全退化,呈翅芽状,后前翅退化,末端尖;(4)前头胸腹呈现黑褐色,后呈红褐色。云南蚧狼跳小蜂,新种Gyranusoidea yunnanensis Xu,sp．nov．寄主：粉蚧。分布：云南(昆明)。本新种与Gyranusoidea hecale Noyes et Hayat 1988很相似,主要区别是新种：(1)触角窝与复眼之间有1褐色斑,后触角窝与复眼之间有1褐色线相连;(2)触角柄节细长,长为最宽处的5倍,后柄节膨大,长为最宽处的2．5—2．8倍;(3)触角柄节近端无白色环斑,后触角柄节近端有白色环斑。