Host size,superparasitism and sex ratio in mass-reared <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diachasmimorpha longicaudata</Emphasis>, a fruit fly parasitoid |
| |
Authors: | Pablo Montoya Jorge Cancino Gabriela Pérez-Lachaud Pablo Liedo |
| |
Institution: | (1) Programa Moscafrut SAGARPA-IICA, Av. Central Poniente 14, 30700 Tapachula, CHIS, Mexico;(2) El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Apartado Postal 36, 30700 Tapachula, CHIS, Mexico |
| |
Abstract: | We analyzed the relationship among host size, superparasitism and sex-ratio in mass reared Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Individual host pupae of Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) were measured (length and width), and the number of oviposition scars per pupa was used as a reliable
indicator of superparasitism. The probability of an emerging parasitoid being a female was positively associated with the
number of oviposition scars on the host cuticle, but not with the host size. The number of scars per host pupae from which
females emerged was slightly but significantly higher than in those pupae giving raise to males. In D. longicaudata, the influence of host size on sex allocation decisions of individual females seems to be overridden by the level of superparasitism,
which itself was positively correlated with pupa length. This suggests that larger pupae could experience a higher number
of ovipositions than their smaller counterparts, and that a high level of superparasitism may conduct to a female biased sex
ratio. We discuss the relevance of these findings which could provide new elements (e.g., the manipulation of superparasitism)
for optimizing the mass rearing of this parasitoid. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|