烟粉虱及海氏桨角蚜小蜂对中国番茄黄化曲叶病毒感染烟草的嗅觉反应

双生病毒可通过调控寄主植物促进媒介昆虫烟粉虱种群增长,然而病毒侵染植物后是否通过调控植物挥发物来影响烟粉虱及其天敌的嗅觉反应还未见报道。【目的】本文旨在研究烟草植株感染中国番茄黄化曲叶病毒(Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus,TYLCCNV)后对烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)及其重要寄生性天敌海氏桨角蚜小蜂Eretmocerus hayati(Zolnerowich and Rose)嗅觉反应行为的影响。【方法】利用Y形嗅觉仪方法,我们测试了烟粉虱及海氏桨角蚜小蜂对带毒植株、健康植株及烟粉虱危害植株的选择偏好性。【结果】烟粉虱及海氏桨角蚜小蜂选择携带TYLCCNV病毒的烟草显著多于健康烟草植株,但烟草被病毒与烟粉虱共同侵染时,烟粉虱对带毒烟草的选择仍显著多于无毒植株,而寄生蜂虽然仍较多选择带毒植株,但无显著差异。【结论】这些结果表明烟粉虱及海氏桨角蚜小蜂偏好选择携带TYLCCNV病毒的烟草,但这种偏好作用在烟粉虱取食共同危害时有一定程度的减弱。本研究首次报道了双生病毒侵染植物可增加烟粉虱及其天敌对植物的选择作用,并就其功能及机制进行了讨论。     

海氏桨角蚜小蜂对不同龄期“Q”烟粉虱的取食和寄生反应

【背景】近年来＂Q＂烟粉虱在我国快速扩张,已成为农业生产上的一种重要入侵害虫。由于化学农药的大量使用,＂Q＂烟粉虱已对多种农药产生高抗药性,保护和利用天敌昆虫对其进行控制具有重要意义。【方法】本文在室内研究了近年引入我国的海氏桨角蚜小蜂对不同龄期＂Q＂烟粉虱若虫的取食和寄生能力。【结果】各龄期的＂Q＂烟粉虱若虫均可被海氏桨角蚜小蜂取食和寄生。在48h内,寄生蜂取食1、2、3、4龄烟粉虱若虫的数量分别为10.7、6.4、6.7、5.0头,呈现随龄期增大取食数量下降的趋势;海氏桨角蚜小蜂对不同龄期烟粉虱若虫的寄生能力存在明显差异,其更偏好寄生2、3龄若虫（25.4和27.5头）,其次是1龄若虫（22.1头）,而寄生4龄粉虱的数量最低（16.5头）。【结论与意义】寄主龄期对海氏桨角蚜小蜂的取食和寄生能力具有显著影响。综合来看,该寄生蜂表现出对＂Q＂烟粉虱较好的生物防治潜能,是防治烟粉虱的理想寄生性天敌昆虫。     

海氏桨角蚜小蜂对不同龄期 “Q”烟粉虱的取食和寄生反应

【背景】近年来 “Q”烟粉虱在我国快速扩张,已成为农业生产上的一种重要入侵害虫。由于化学农药的大量使用,“Q”烟粉虱已对多种农药产生高抗药性,保护和利用天敌昆虫对其进行控制具有重要意义。【方法】本文在室内研究了近年引入我国的海氏桨角蚜小蜂对不同龄期 “Q”烟粉虱若虫的取食和寄生能力。【结果】各龄期的 “Q”烟粉虱若虫均可被海氏桨角蚜小蜂取食和寄生。在48 h内,寄生蜂取食1、2、3、4龄烟粉虱若虫的数量分别为10.〖KG-*8〗7、6.[KG-*8]4、6.[KG-*8]7、5.[KG-*8]0头,呈现随龄期增大取食数量下降的趋势;海氏桨角蚜小蜂对不同龄期烟粉虱若虫的寄生能力存在明显差异,其更偏好寄生2、3龄若虫（25.[KG-*8]4和27.[KG-*8]5头）,其次是1龄若虫（22.[KG-*8]1头）,而寄生4龄粉虱的数量最低（16.[KG-*8]5头）。【结论与意义】寄主龄期对海氏桨角蚜小蜂的取食和寄生能力具有显著影响。综合来看,该寄生蜂表现出对 “Q”烟粉虱较好的生物防治潜能,是防治烟粉虱的理想寄生性天敌昆虫。     

大棚微生境下两种烟粉虱寄生蜂的竞争作用

海氏桨角蚜小蜂和丽蚜小蜂是烟粉虱的重要天敌,为更有效地发挥其控害作用,在大棚条件下评估了这两种寄生蜂在种内及种间竞争时对单雌寄生率及对烟粉虱的控害潜能的影响。结果显示:种间竞争导致丽蚜小蜂的单雌寄生率显著降低,而对海氏桨角蚜小蜂无显著影响,种内竞争对两种寄生蜂的单雌寄生率均无显著影响。与单头蜂对烟粉虱的致死率比较,两头蜂在夹叶笼内对烟粉虱的致死率无显著差异,表明两种蜂的种内和种间竞争作用对寄生蜂的控害潜能有干扰作用。     

三种杀虫剂对烟粉虱优势寄生蜂海氏桨角蚜小蜂的安全性评价

为评价噻虫嗪、阿维菌素和氟啶虫胺腈对烟粉虱优势寄生蜂海氏桨角蚜小蜂Eretmocerus hayati的安全性,采用琼脂保湿浸叶法分别测定了3种杀虫剂对烟粉虱成虫和海氏桨角蚜小蜂成蜂的室内毒力以及对海氏桨角蚜小蜂蛹羽化率的影响.结果表明,噻虫嗪、阿维菌素和氟啶虫胺腈对烟粉虱的LC50分别为453.76 mg/L、2.00 mg/L和29.47 mg/L,对海氏桨角蚜小蜂成蜂的LC50分别为0.23 mg/L、1.07 mg/L和0.64 mg/L.通过风险系数评估,表明阿维菌素对海氏桨角蚜小蜂成蜂安全,而噻虫嗪和氟啶虫胺腈对该蜂成蜂具有轻微到中度毒性.3种杀虫剂在烟粉虱和寄生蜂之间的选择性毒力指数表明噻虫嗪对海氏桨角蚜小蜂的负向选择性最强,其次是氟啶虫胺腈,阿维菌素最弱.3种杀虫剂均可显著降低海氏桨角蚜小蜂蛹的羽化率,对蛹的毒性为轻微有害,风险等级为2级.本研究结果将为烟粉虱综合治理中协调使用寄生蜂和化学药剂奠定理论基础.     

海氏桨角蚜小蜂对两种生物型烟粉虱的功能反应研究

本文报道海氏桨角蚜小蜂Erelmocerus hayati在室内对不同寄主密度下的B型和Q型烟粉虱Bemisiatabaei寄生和取食情况,并比较了该蜂对两种生物型烟粉虱功能反应的差异。结果表明,海氏桨角蚜小蜂对两种生物型烟粉虱的寄生率和致死率可分别达到60％和70％以上,平均每日最大致死量可达40头烟粉虱若虫。该蜂对两种生物型烟粉虱的功能反应曲线符合Holling Ⅱ型,随寄主密度的增加对烟粉虱若虫的寄生和致死数量均增加直至达到每日最大致死数量,而寄生率和致死率则随寄主密度的增加而显著下降。该蜂对两种生物型烟粉虱的功能反应没有显著的差异。     

宁波地区烟粉虱及其寄生蜂调查

烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)是重要的世界性害虫之一,对农业生产造成了严重的危害.利用天敌对烟粉虱进行生物防治已经成为研究重点.本文于2007年6月至2008年11月对宁波地区不同寄主作物上烟粉虱虫口数量及其寄生蜂种类进行了调查.结果查得烟粉虱寄生蜂共7种,它们是恩蚜小蜂属Encarsm Forster的浅黄恩蚜小蜂En.sophia、日本恩蚜小蜂En.japonica、丽蚜小蜂En.formosa、黄盾恩蚜小蜂En.smithi和桨角蚜小蜂属Eretmocerus Haldeman的蒙氏桨角蚜小蜂Er.mundus、狄氏桨角蚜小蜂Er.debachi、盾黑桨角蚜小蜂Er.melanoscutus,其中优势种为浅黄恩蚜小蜂En.sophia、蒙氏桨角蚜小蜂Er.mundus和狄氏桨角蚜小蜂Er.debachi,这3种寄生蜂分别占收集到寄生蜂总数量的35.89%、49.66%和11.01%;此外,田间十字花科蔬菜上的烟粉虱虫13数量最高峰在2007年12月,自然寄生率最高峰在2008年10月,寄生率可达到13.86%;田间黄瓜上的烟粉虱虫口数量最高峰出现在2007年11月,自然寄生率最高峰在2007年8月,寄生率可达到8.22%;田间茄子上的烟粉虱虫口数量高峰出现在2007年7月和9月及2008年10月,自然寄生率高峰出现在2007年7月和9月及2008年9月,分别达到13.25%,10.30%和5.92%.     

两种蚜小蜂对烟粉虱寄主的产卵选择性(英文)

双斑恩蚜小蜂和桨角蚜小蜂是华南地区烟粉虱的两种优势种寄生蜂。本文研究了两种寄生蜂对不同龄期烟粉虱寄主的产卵选择特性。结果表明:两种寄生蜂均可寄生烟粉虱的1~4龄若虫。当只有1个龄期的烟粉虱若虫存在时,双斑恩蚜小蜂更多地寄生3龄和4龄若虫,较少寄生1龄和2龄若虫;而桨角蚜小蜂则更多地寄生3龄和2龄若虫,较少寄生1龄和4龄若虫。在4个龄期若虫同时存在时,双斑恩蚜小蜂会明显增加对3龄和4龄若虫的产卵寄生,降低对1龄和2龄若虫的寄生;而桨角蚜小蜂则增加对2龄和3龄若虫的寄生,减少对1龄和4龄若虫的寄生。寄主植物的差异不影响这二种蚜小蜂对各龄期烟粉虱若虫的产卵选择倾向。结果提示,烟粉虱若虫3龄和4龄是双斑恩蚜小蜂最适宜的寄主,而桨角蚜小蜂最适宜的寄主是烟粉虱2龄和3龄若虫。     

两种蚜小蜂对烟粉虱寄主的产卵选择性（英文）

双斑恩蚜小蜂和桨角蚜小蜂是华南地区烟粉虱的两种优势种寄生蜂。本文研究了两种寄生蜂对不同龄期烟粉虱寄主的产卵选择特性。结果表明: 两种寄生蜂均可寄生烟粉虱的1～4龄若虫。当只有1个龄期的烟粉虱若虫存在时,双斑恩蚜小蜂更多地寄生3龄和4龄若虫,较少寄生1龄和2龄若虫;而桨角蚜小蜂则更多地寄生3龄和2龄若虫,较少寄生1龄和4龄若虫。在4个龄期若虫同时存在时,双斑恩蚜小蜂会明显增加对3龄和4龄若虫的产卵寄生,降低对1龄和2龄若虫的寄生;而桨角蚜小蜂则增加对2龄和3龄若虫的寄生,减少对1龄和4龄若虫的寄生。寄主植物的差异不影响这二种蚜小蜂对各龄期烟粉虱若虫的产卵选择倾向。结果提示,烟粉虱若虫3龄和4龄是双斑恩蚜小蜂最适宜的寄主,而桨角蚜小蜂最适宜的寄主是烟粉虱2龄和3龄若虫。     

蚜小蜂和粉虱座壳孢对烟粉虱的控制作用研究

研究了烟粉虱两种寄生性天敌桨角蚜小蜂(Eretmocerus sp．)和粉虱座壳孢(Aschersonia aley-rodis)单独使用和联合使用时对烟粉虱种群的控制作用。结果表明,在单独进行控制时,在一个世代内按5×10^6个孢子·ml^-1喷施粉虱座壳孢2次,对烟粉虱种群的控制作用达95．74％,按每株植株3头雌蜂的密度释放桨角蚜小蜂2次,对烟粉虱种群的控制作用达57.58％。在两者联合控制时,一个世代内喷施粉虱座壳孢2次,再释放桨角蚜小蜂1次或2次,对烟粉虱种群的控制作用达97．02％～97．91％,烟粉虱种群增长趋势指数低于1,种群数量逐渐下降,联合使用时,桨角蚜小蜂和粉虱座壳孢间无消极影响。     

Differential indirect effects of two plant viruses on an invasive and an indigenous whitefly vector: implications for competitive displacement

The role of vector–begomovirus–plant interactions in the widespread invasion by some members of the whitefly species complex Bemisia tabaci is poorly understood. The invasive B biotype of B. tabaci entered China in the late 1990s and had become the predominant or only biotype of the whitefly in many regions of the country by 2005–2006. Meanwhile epidemics of begomoviruses have been observed in many crops including tomato for which Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) have been identified as two major disease-causing agents. Here, we conducted laboratory experiments to compare the performance of the invasive B and indigenous ZHJ1 whitefly biotypes on uninfected, TYLCCNV-infected and TYLCV-infected plants of tomato cv. Hezuo903, a cultivar that has been widely cultivated in many regions of China. The infection of tomato plants by either of the viruses had no or only marginal effects on the development, survival and fecundity of the B biotype. In contrast, survival and fecundity of the ZHJ1 biotype were significantly reduced on virus-infected plants compared to those on uninfected plants. Populations of the B biotype on uninfected and TYLCCNV-infected plants increased at similar rates, whereas population increase of the ZHJ1 biotype on TYLCCNV-infected plants was affected adversely. These asymmetric responses to virus infection of tomato plants between the B and ZHJ1 biotypes are likely to offer advantages to the B biotype in its invasion and displacement of the indigenous biotype.     

Population suppression of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) using yellow sticky traps and Eretmocerus nr. rajasthanicus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on tomato plants in greenhouses

We conducted three experiments for management of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype ‘B’ on tomatoes under greenhouse conditions: (i) vertically placing yellow sticky cards either parallel or perpendicular to tomato rows at a rate of 1 per 3‐m row; (ii) releasing Eretmocerus sp. nr. rajasthanicus once at 30 adults/m² in the high whitefly density greenhouses (> 10 adults/plant), or twice at 15 adults/m² at a 5‐day interval in the low whitefly density greenhouses (< 10 adults/plant); and (iii) using combinations of yellow sticky cards that were placed vertically parallel to tomato rows and parasitoids released once at 30/m² in high whitefly density greenhouses or twice at 15/m² at a 5‐day interval in low whitefly density greenhouses. Our data show that yellow sticky cards trapped B. tabaci adults and significantly reduced whitefly populations on tomato. The yellow sticky cards that were placed parallel to tomato rows caught significantly more whitefly adults than those placed perpendicular to tomato rows on every sampling date. In the treatment where parasitoids were released once at 30/m² in high whitefly density greenhouses, the number of live whitefly nymphs were reduced from 4.6/leaf to 2.9/leaf in 40 days as compared with those on untreated plants on which live whitefly nymphs increased from 4.4/leaf to 8.9/leaf. In the treatment where parasitoids were released twice at 15/m² in low whitefly density greenhouses, the numbers of live nymphs of B. tabaci on tomato leaves were reduced from 2.1/leaf to 1.7/leaf in 20 days as compared with those on untreated plants on which numbers of live nymphs of B. tabaci increased from 2.2/leaf to 4.5/leaf. In the treatment of yellow sticky cards and parasitoid release once at 30/m² in high whitefly density greenhouses, the numbers of live nymphs of B. tabaci on tomato leaves were reduced from 7.2/leaf to 1.9/leaf, and in the treatment of yellow sticky cards and parasitoid release twice at 15/m² at a 5‐day interval at low whitefly density, the numbers of live nymphs of B. tabaci on tomato leaves were reduced from 2.5/leaf to 0.8/leaf; whereas the numbers of live nymphs of B. tabaci on untreated plants increased from 4.4/leaf to 8.9/leaf. An integrated program for management of B. tabaci on greenhouse vegetables by using yellow sticky cards, parasitoids and biorational insecticides is discussed.     

Effects of plant diversity and structural complexity on parasitoid behaviour in a field experiment

1. In natural ecosystems, plants containing hosts for parasitoids are often embedded within heterogeneous plant communities. These plant communities surrounding host‐infested plants may influence the host‐finding ability of parasitoids. 2. A release‐recapture‐approach was used to examine whether the diversity and structural complexity of the community surrounding a host‐infested plant influences the aggregation behaviour of the leaf‐miner parasitoid Dacnusa sibirica Telenga and naturally occurring local leaf‐miner parasitoids. Released and locally present parasitoids were collected on potted Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn.plants infested with the generalist leaf‐miner Chromatomyia syngenesiae Hardy. The plants were placed in experimentally established plant communities differing in plant diversity (1–9 species) and habitat complexity (bare ground, mown vegetation, and tall vegetation). Additionally, parasitoids were reared out from host mines on the trap plants. 3. Plant diversity did not influence the mean number of recaptured D. sibirica or captures of other locally present parasitoids but the number of recaptured parasitoids was influenced by habitat complexity. No D. sibirica parasitoids were recaptured in the bare ground plots or plots with mown vegetation. The mean number of recaptured D. sibirica generally increased with increasing complexity of the plant community, whereas locally present parasitoids were captured more frequently in communities with more bare ground. There was a unimodal relationship between the number of reared out parasitoids and diversity of the surrounding vegetation with the highest density of emerged parasitoids at intermediate diversity levels. 4. The present study adds to the thus far limited body of literature examining the aggregation behaviour of parasitoids in the field and suggests that the preference of parasitoids to aggregate in complex versus simple vegetation is association specific and thus depends on the parasitoid species as well as the identity of the plant community.     

Host plant effects on the behaviour and performance of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Biological control in ornamental crops is challenging due to the wide diversity of crops and cultivars. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that trichome density on different host plants influences the behavior and performance of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Behavioural observations of this predator in the presence or absence of prey (western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) were done on leaf squares of ornamental plant species differing in trichome density (rose, chrysanthemum and gerbera) and compared to a smooth surface (plastic). Tomato leaves were used to observe the influence of glandular trichomes. The performance of A. swirskii was assessed by measuring predation and oviposition rate. Behaviour of A. swirskii was influenced by plant species. Up to a certain density of trichomes, trichome number had a negative effect on walking speed. It was highest on plastic, followed by rose. No differences were found among chrysanthemum, gerbera and tomato. Walking speed was slightly higher on disks without prey. Proportion of time spent walking was the same on leaf disks of all plant species, with and without prey. No effect of glandular trichomes on tomato leaves was seen. Most thrips were killed and consumed on gerbera, and least on rose. Predation rates on chrysanthemum and plastic were intermediate. In contrast, no differences in oviposition rate were found among plant species. The results of this study indicate that trichome density can explain some of the variability in efficacy of A. swirskii on different crops. Release rates of A. swirskii may need to be adjusted depending on the crop in which it is used.     

Population dynamics and sex ratio of a parasitoid altered by fungal-infected diet of host butterfly

Variation of host quality affects population dynamics of parasitoids, even at the landscape scale. What causes host quality to vary and the subsequent mechanisms by which parasitoid population dynamics are affected can be complex. Here, we examine the indirect interaction of a plant pathogen with a parasitoid wasp. Under laboratory conditions, parasitoids from hosts fed fungus-infected plants weighed less than those from hosts fed uninfected plants, indicating that the fungus causes the hosts to be of poor quality. However, parasitoids reared from hosts fed fungal-infected diet also tended to be female, a characteristic associated with high host quality. The pathogen, herbivore and parasitoid persist regionally as metapopulations in a shared landscape in Aland, Finland. In an analysis of the metapopulation dynamics of the parasitoid over 6 years, the probability of colonization of a host population increased by more than twofold in patches occupied by the plant pathogen. While we cannot determine that the relationship is causal, a compelling explanation is that the plant pathogen facilitates the establishment by the parasitoid by increasing the fraction of female offspring. This is a novel mechanism of spatial multi-trophic level interactions.     

Pre- and post-landing response of the parasitoid Encarsia formosa to whitefly hosts on Gerbera jamesonii

One of the factors that may complicate biological control of the greenhouse whitefly on Gerbera jamesonii by Encarsia formosa is the rosette shape of this ornamental, which differs from the vertical shape of most vegetable plants (cucumber, egg plant, tomato, etc.). Therefore, host-habitat location and the behaviour prior to landing on uninfested and infested leaves was studied. Attraction of E. formosa from a short distance by infested leaves could not be detected: the parasitoid females landed at random on uninfested and infested leaves. After the first landing, a redistribution of the wasps occurred on the leaves. After 24 h three times as many wasps were found on the infested leaves than on uninfested ones. In a dispersal experiment with four plants, E. formosa appeared to have no preference for landing on leaves of the medium age class, which is the age class on which most of the whiteflies in a suitable stage for parasitism occur. Twenty percent of the parasitoids were found on the plants 20 min after releasing them. These results were independent of the plant cultivar and the host density on the plants. In the course of 8 h, the number of E. formosa females recovered from plants increased linearly, and this increase was greater on plants where hosts were present and also greater on the plant cultivar with the lowest trichome density. After 24 h, the percentage of females was highest (56%) on plants with the highest host density. E. formosa females were arrested on leaves where hosts were present. Contrary to our expectation, the results from the two G. jamesonii cultivars that differed strongly in leaf hairiness were not significantly different in most experiments. Only at the high host density was parasitism found to be lower on the cultivar with the higher hair density. Parasitoids may walk on top of the `hair coverlet' of cultivars with high trichome density and, therefore, be hampered less than expected.     

Environmental and plant genetic effects on tri‐trophic interactions

The effects of plant genotype and environmental factors on tri‐trophic interactions have usually been investigated separately, limiting our ability to compare the relative strength of these effects as well as their potential to interactively shape arthropod communities. We studied the interactions among the herb Ruellia nudiflora, a seed predator, and its parasitoids using 14 maternal plant families grown in a common garden. By fertilizing half of the plants of each family and subsequently recording fruit number, seed predator number, and parasitoid number per plant, we sought to compare the strength of plant genetic effects with those of soil fertility, and determine if these factors interactively shape tri‐trophic interactions. Furthermore, we evaluated if these bottom–up factors influenced higher trophic levels through changes in abundance across trophic levels (density‐mediated) or changes in the function of species interactions (trait‐mediated). Plant genetic effects on seed predators and parasitoids were stronger than fertilization effects. Moreover, we did not find plant genetic variation for fertilization effects on fruit, seed predator, or parasitoid abundance, showing that each factor acted independently on plant resources and higher trophic levels. Both bottom–up forces were transmitted via density‐mediated effects where increased fruit number from fertilization and plant genetic effects increased seed predator and parasitoid abundance; however, seed predator attack was density‐dependent, while parasitoid attack was density‐independent. Importantly, there was evidence (marginally significant in one case) that fertilization modified the function of plant‐seed predator and seed predator–parasitoid interactions by increasing the number of seed predators per fruit and decreasing the number of parasitoids per seed predator, respectively. These findings show that plant genetic and soil fertility effects cascaded up this simple food chain, that plant genetic effects were stronger across all trophic levels, and that these effects were transmitted independently and through contrasting mechanisms.     

Effects of geminivirus infection and growth irradiance on the vegetative growth and photosynthetic production of Eupatorium makinoi

Eupatorium makinoi plants with or without geminivirus infection were grown in shading frames with 70, 15 and 5.5% sunlight. Growth characteristics of these plants in the early vegetative phase were compared by means of growth analysis. We also measured leaf photosynthetic gas exchange rates and examined relationships between leaf photosynthesis and whole-plant growth. Relative growth rate (RGR=(1/W)×(dW/dt), where W is plant dry mass) of virus-infected plants was lower than that of uninfected plants under all three light conditions. The reduction of RGR by infection was increased with irradiance. The net assimilation rate (NAR=(1/A)×(dW/dt), where A is total leaf area of the plant) was also reduced both by infection and shading. NARs that were estimated from light-response curves of leaf photosynthesis, in situ measurements of irradiance, and respiration rates of leaves, stems and below-ground parts, agreed very well with the values obtained by conventional growth analysis techniques. Decreases in the estimated NAR value from infection and shading were mostly explained by the decreases in leaf photosynthesis. These results clearly showed that lowered RGR in virus-infected plants was attributed mainly to impaired photosynthesis in virus-infected leaves.     

Preference and performance of Anagrus nilaparvatae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae): effect of infestation duration and density by Nilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae)

The effect of Nilaparvata lugens (St?l) infestation duration and density on the host preference and performance of Anagrus nilaparvatae Pang et Wang, an egg parasitoid of rice planthoppers, was determined. The results showed that the parasitoid preferred N. lugens eggs on the plants infested with 10 gravid N. lugens females for 1 d to those plants infested with 10 gravid females for 2 or 3 d. It was also found to prefer N. lugens eggs on plants infested with 10 or 20 adult females after 24 h of infestation to those plants infested with 5 or 80 females. The parasitoid's offsprings had lower survival rates, fecundities, female ratios, indexes of capacity for population increase, and longer developmental durations on plants when they were infested with high N. lugens density (80 adult females per plant). However, the performance of the parasitoid on plants infested with low N. lugens density (5 female adults per plant) was similar to those on plants with intermediate N. lugens density (10 or 20 adult females per plant). Low preference of the parasitoid for N. lugens eggs on plants with heavy or light infestation levels may be correlated with low host suitability and detectability, respectively. The result implies an important role of herbivore-induced rice volatiles in the host preference of the parasitoid A. nilaparvatae, by which the parasitoid perceives the host and its suitability.