Effect of different nutrition on the main biological characteristics of Chouioia cunea

补充10％果糖水、10％蔗糖水、10％葡萄糖水、10％蜂蜜水后,均显著提高了亲代蜂的寿命,其中10％的果糖水效果最好,比对照长2.13d;补充10％果糖水和10％葡萄糖水均能显著延长子代蜂的寿命,并显著提高了子代蜂的出蜂量,其中10％的果糖水处理效果最好.发生寄生行为的小蜂,其寿命明显短于未发生寄生行为的小蜂.     

营养对不同地理种群周氏啮小蜂生物学特性的影响

【目的】研究补充营养对周氏啮小蜂海南本土地理种群和北京地理种群的生物学参数是否有差异。【方法】设置不同的营养(10%蜂蜜、10%蔗糖、10%葡萄糖、水、空白)分别饲喂周氏啮小蜂,统计2个地理种群的寄生率、羽化率、出蜂量、寿命。【结果】2个地理种群的周氏啮小蜂羽化后不久即可进行交配,补充10%蜂蜜、10%蔗糖、10%葡萄糖能显著提高2个地理种群的寄生率、羽化率、出蜂量、雌雄蜂寿命,补充不同的营养对两个地理种群的雌雄比、发育历期的影响差异不显著;饲喂10%蜂蜜的海南地理种群寄生率最高(84.60%),饲喂10%葡萄糖的海南地理种群羽化率最高(97.47%),饲喂10%葡萄糖的海南地理种群出蜂量最高(60.03头),饲喂10%葡萄糖的海南地理种群雌、雄蜂的寿命均为最高,分别为9.13和8.53d。营养和地理种群的交互作用对周氏啮小蜂雄蜂的寄生率、羽化率、出蜂量、雌雄比、雌雄蜂寿命具有显著影响,而对周氏啮小蜂的发育历期无显著影响。【结论】补充营养可不同程度促进周氏啮小蜂生殖力、寿命及寄生率,对寄生蜂繁育和利用其进行生物防治具有一定的意义。     

扶桑绵粉蚧虫态对班氏跳小蜂寄生适合性的影响

为明确寄主虫态对班氏跳小蜂适合度的影响,在实验室条件下\[温度(27±1) ℃,相对湿度(70±5)%,光周期14L∶10D\]测定了寄生于不同发育阶段(3龄若虫和雌成虫)扶桑绵粉蚧的班氏跳小蜂子代性比和个体大小.结果表明: 寄生扶桑绵粉蚧雌成虫的班氏跳小蜂的子代雌雄性比、个体体长和后足胫节的长度均明显高于寄生3龄若虫,且个体体长与后足胫节长度之间有显著的相关性.扶桑绵粉蚧3龄若虫个体大小显著影响班氏跳小蜂子代个体大小,而雌成虫的个体大小对该蜂子代大小无显著影响.
     

寄主对蝇蛹俑小蜂发育及寄生效能的影响

【背景】蝇蛹俑小蜂是蝇类害虫蛹期重要的寄生蜂,该蜂可寄生家蝇、瓜实蝇、橘小实蝇和南瓜实蝇等多种蝇类害虫。研究蝇蛹俑小蜂对寄主的选择性及在不同寄主上的发育情况有助于该寄生蜂的扩繁和利用。【方法】在温度(26±1)℃、相对湿度(70±5)%,光周期L∶D=14 h∶10 h的条件下,研究了蝇蛹俑小蜂对瓜实蝇蛹、南瓜实蝇蛹和橘小实蝇蛹的寄生率及子代蜂发育、寿命的影响。【结果】蝇蛹俑小蜂在瓜实蝇蛹、橘小实蝇蛹和南瓜实蝇蛹上均能产卵并发育至成虫,其对瓜实蝇蛹的选择系数和寄生率分别为0.37和55.33%,显著高于其对另外2种实蝇蛹。在非选择条件下,蝇蛹俑小蜂在瓜实蝇蛹上的出蜂量最高,发育历期最短。在同一寄主条件下,蝇蛹俑小蜂雌蜂的发育历期、寿命显著较雄蜂的长,雌蜂的质量显著大于雄蜂。【结论与意义】蝇蛹俑小蜂可用于瓜实蝇的防治,瓜实蝇蛹是扩繁蝇蛹俑小蜂的理想寄主。     

小菜蛾主要寄生性天敌——菜蛾绒茧蜂与菜蛾啮小蜂间的相互作用

在28℃下,以小菜蛾3龄幼虫作寄主,研究了菜蛾绒茧蜂与菜蛾啮小蜂间的相互关系．当寄主供2种蜂同时产卵寄生时,与只供1种蜂时相比。绒茧蜂的寄生率无显著变化,而啮小蜂的寄生率则显著下降;2种蜂的合计寄生率与任一种蜂单独存在时相比无显著差异．当寄主先供绒茧蜂寄生,再供啮小蜂寄生时,绒茧蜂的成功寄生率不受影响,而啮小蜂的寄生率仅为8％～13％;啮小蜂能寄生在寄主体内的绒茧蜂高龄幼虫．绒茧蜂能寄生已被啮小蜂寄生的寄主幼虫,其子代部分个体能正常发育至成虫羽化．当已被绒茧蜂寄生和未被寄生的寄主同时存在时,啮小蜂主要寄生未被寄生的寄主．表明绒茧蜂具有竞争优势。但这种优势可因啮小蜂的寄生而被削弱．     

不同营养源对稻虱缨小蜂寿命及寄生能力的影响

研究了蜂蜜、玉米花粉、大豆花、褐飞虱蜜露和黄脊飞虱蜜露对稻虱缨小蜂寿命、寄生能力以及寄生行为对稻虱缨小蜂寿命和存活率的影响。结果表明,蜂蜜、玉米花粉、褐飞虱蜜露和大豆花均能明显延长稻虱缨小蜂的寿命。并且显著地提高了对褐飞虱卵的寄生能力,其中蜂蜜最有效,大豆花次之,玉米花粉和褐飞虱蜜露这两种营养源以玉米花粉(水和褐飞虱蜜露+水的形式)对提高稻虱缨小蜂寿命最有效,而单一玉米花粉、花粉液、褐飞虱蜜露稀释液和纯褐飞虱蜜露均不能延长稻虱缨小蜂寿命,黄脊飞虱蜜露对稻虱缨小蜂的寿命和寄生能力均无影响。寄生行为对稻虱缨小蜂的寿命基本无影响。但致使其40～48h内的存活率提高,此后的存活率降低较快,在稻田周围的作物和植被上调查到约10种飞虱,非稻田生境能为稻田寄生性天敌提供寄主和食物,是理想的庇护所,对保护和提高稻田天敌种群数量,提高稻田天敌的生物控制作用。     

补充非寄主食物对芙新姬小蜂和潜蝇姬小蜂控害行为权衡的影响

芙新姬小蜂和潜蝇姬小蜂均为强卵育型(synovigenic)寄生蜂,成虫具有产卵寄生致死、寄主取食致死和寄主叮蛰直接致死3种寄主致死行为。为了明确成虫补充非寄主食物营养对2种姬小蜂控害潜力/控害行为的影响,本文比较研究了分别提供寄主食物和寄主食物+非寄主食物(10%葡萄糖)条件下的2种姬小蜂在初羽化前期(前6 d)内对美洲斑潜蝇幼虫的致死行为的影响。结果显示:在仅提供寄主食物时,芙新姬小蜂的寄生、取食和总体致死量均显著的高于潜蝇姬小蜂,但是直接致死能力却弱于后者;补充非寄主食物和仅提供寄主食物处理相比,两种寄生蜂的寄生量,取食量和总致死量均呈下降趋势。该研究显示:在初羽化前期,取食寄主食物的雌蜂比取食寄主食物+葡萄糖的雌蜂具有更强的致死能力。     

斑翅食蚧蚜小蜂的生物学特性

斑翅食蚧蚜小蜂Coccophagus ceroplastae是橡副珠蜡蚧Parasaissetia nigra的重要内寄生蜂。对斑翅食蚧蚜小蜂的形态特征进行了描述,在实验室条件下观察了斑翅食蚧蚜小蜂的行为、发育、存活、繁殖等生物学特性。结果表明:斑翅食蚧蚜小蜂幼虫分3龄,完成一个世代需21-26d。卵巢左右成对,各由3条卵巢管组成,为发育成熟型,成虫期补充营养和发育时间对抱卵量的影响不明显。羽化后即可进行交配,交配时间2-3s,雄蜂有竞争交配行为,交配对雌蜂产卵有显著刺激作用。产卵行为有寻找、寄主检查、产卵器刺探、产卵、产卵针拔出等步骤,存在过寄生现象。羽化主要是在08:00-10:00,温度、相对湿度、光照对其羽化节律均有影响,温度升高羽化提前,且相对集中;相对湿度在20%-90%范围内,随湿度的升高成虫羽化高蜂延后;而光照时间过长或过短均可使斑翅食蚧蚜小蜂的羽化相对分散。随着温度的升高,雌成蜂的寿命逐渐缩短;补充营养能延长成虫寿命,取食10%蔗糖的寿命最长,清水和无补充营养寿命短。     

班氏跳小蜂对新寄主资源的寄生适合度

【目的】班氏跳小蜂Aenasius bambawalei是扶桑绵粉蚧Phenacoccus solenopsis的伴迁性天敌,迄今已知该寄生蜂只能寄生扶桑绵粉蚧,但是我们发现该寄生蜂还能成功寄生另一种外来有害生物——石蒜绵粉蚧P. solani。本研究旨在明确班氏跳小蜂对该新寄主资源的寄生适合度,为今后充分开发、利用该寄生蜂提供科学依据。【方法】在实验室条件下,以马铃薯Solanum tuberosum块茎作为粉蚧的寄主植物,测定了班氏跳小蜂对不同龄期石蒜绵粉蚧的寄生适合度,并在非选择条件下测定了上述两种寄主上僵蚧形成时间以及该寄生蜂羽化时间、寿命、后足胫节长度、寄生率、羽化率及子代性比。【结果】班氏跳小蜂可寄生石蒜绵粉蚧的雌成虫及2龄和3龄若虫,但只有寄生雌成虫才能正常羽化出蜂。分别以石蒜绵粉蚧与扶桑绵粉蚧为寄主时,最适合的蜂蚧比分别为2∶15和2∶20。不同寄主对僵蚧形成时间及班氏跳小蜂的羽化时间无显著影响,但显著影响班氏跳小蜂的寿命以及雌蜂后足胫节长度,尤其是扶桑绵粉蚧上羽化的寄生蜂的寿命比以石蒜绵粉蚧上的长约20 d。而且,班氏跳小蜂对扶桑绵粉蚧的寄生率(54.0%)显著高于对石蒜绵粉蚧的(25.3%),但班氏跳小蜂在这两种寄主上的羽化率均在90%以上,差异不显著;寄生扶桑绵粉蚧的雌蜂比例高于寄生石蒜绵粉蚧的雌蜂比例。【结论】班氏跳小蜂能寄生石蒜绵粉蚧,且只在雌成虫上完成世代发育;与在更适寄主扶桑绵粉蚧上比较,石蒜绵粉蚧上羽化的班氏跳小蜂在寿命及雌蜂个体大小上有劣势。     

螟蛉盘绒茧蜂的过寄生行为及其对子代生长发育的影响

【目的】过寄生现象普遍存在于寄生蜂寄生过程中。本研究旨在探究螟蛉盘绒茧蜂Cotesia ruficrus的过寄生对子代发育的影响及影响过寄生行为的主要因素。【方法】室内研究了螟蛉盘绒茧蜂在其寄主稻纵卷叶螟Cnaphalocrocis medinalis3龄幼虫上过寄生行为的发生,不同产卵次数对寄主存活及子代蜂生长发育的影响,研究了不同接蜂时间和不同接蜂密度对过寄生发生的影响。【结果】螟蛉盘绒茧蜂存在过寄生行为,无论雌蜂有无产卵寄生经历,均能在被自身寄生过和同种不同个体寄生过的寄主内产卵。寄生蜂茧量随着被产卵次数的增加而增加,被产卵3~5次的寄主体内死亡的寄生蜂幼虫数随着增大。寄主在育出蜂前的死亡率随着被产卵寄生次数的增加而增加,被产卵5次时,寄主育出蜂前死亡率达50%。过寄生使螟蛉盘绒茧蜂子代蜂卵-蛹的历期延长,羽化率和雌雄性比下降,雌蜂体型随寄生次数的增加显著变小。过寄生率随着接蜂密度及接蜂时间的增加而增加。【结论】在寄主上产卵2次对螟蛉盘绒茧蜂子代发育是最适合的,产卵3次及以上为过寄生。过寄生使蜂子代发育适合度降低,不利于子代生长发育。在室内大量繁殖螟蛉盘绒茧蜂时,应减少接蜂密度和接蜂时间,从而减少过寄生的发生。     

Effects of Five Naturally Occurring Sugars on the Longevity,Oogenesis, and Nutrient Accumulation Pattern in Adult Females of the Synovigenic Parasitoid Neochrysocharis formosa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), one of the dominant natural enemies of agromyzid leafminers, is a synovigenic parasitoid. We compared the longevity, oogenesis, and nutrient levels of female wasps provided with 10% solutions of five naturally occurring sugars. All five sugars significantly increased the longevity of female wasps, which was 6.5–9.3-fold higher than that of parasitoids provided with water only. We found no significant difference in longevity of female wasps fed on glucose versus fructose or trehalose versus melezitose, but longevity of wasps fed on glucose or fructose was significantly longer than those fed on trehalose or melezitose. Also, we examined the oosorption capability of wasps fed on the five sugars. Some mature eggs were present in the ovaries of newly emerged females, but these were fully reabsorbed within 72 h when wasps were starved. Once wasps were fed with any of the sugars, the number of mature eggs increased at first and then decreased due to oosorption. The longevity and oogenesis dynamics of female wasps fed on five sugars were related with their function of hydrolysis and digestion. As female wasps have no lipogenesis capability, by acquiring exogenous sugars for oogenesis, they can either maintain or exceed the original level of capital nutrients held on adult emergence because none of the wasps’ glycogen need be metabolized to burn as sugar.     

取食不同糖分对卵育型寄生蜂潜蝇姬小蜂雌蜂寿命和卵子发生的影响

取食糖类物质有利于延长具寄主取食特性的卵育型寄生蜂的寿命。为了明确自然界常见糖分对卵育型寄生蜂的营养功能差异, 本研究比较了取食葡萄糖、 果糖、 蔗糖、 海藻糖和松三糖5种常见糖分对斑潜蝇类害虫的优势寄生蜂潜蝇姬小蜂Diglyphus isaea雌蜂寿命和卵子发生的影响。结果显示: 取食5种糖均能显著延长雌蜂寿命（P<0.0001）; 取食果糖的雌蜂寿命显著长于取食葡萄糖、 蔗糖、 海藻糖和松三糖的雌蜂寿命（P<0.0001）, 取食葡萄糖、 蔗糖和海藻糖3个处理间差异不显著（P>0.4234）, 但均显著长于取食松三糖（P<0.0001）; 同时, 各个处理的雌蜂寿命与其个体大小均分别呈显著正相关关系。初羽化雌蜂卵巢中没有Ⅲ级卵子（即成熟卵子）; 清水处理的雌蜂, 24 h后卵巢中Ⅲ级卵子达到高峰, 48 h时则全部重吸收; 而取食5种糖的雌蜂, 卵巢中的Ⅲ级卵子和总卵子数量整体上均呈现先显著上升而后逐步下降的趋势, 取食不同糖分的雌蜂卵子形成高峰期的时间不同, 而且取食不同糖分的雌蜂间Ⅲ级卵子高峰日数量和总卵子高峰日数量均无显著差异（P>0.05）。该研究结果为潜蝇姬小蜂的大量室内饲养和田间释放提供了依据。     

Sugar in moderation: sugar diets affect short‐term parasitoid behaviour

The biological control potential of parasitic wasps in the field is expected to increase with the provisioning of sugar sources, which increase longevity and replenish carbohydrate reserves. Apanteles aristoteliae is an important parasitoid of Argyrotaenia franciscana, the orange tortrix, an economic pest in fruit crops. In the present study, the effect of sugar diet on the physiological status of A. aristoteliae is investigated in the laboratory, as well as the effects of nutritional status on short‐term olfactory orientation and parasitism behaviour, and the association between olfactory orientation and immediate parasitism activity. Levels of glycogen, fructose, total sugars, proportional weight gain and volume consumed are higher among females fed 25% sucrose solution than 10% sucrose solution, and lowest for those fed water. Sugar feeding also affects behaviour: wasps with higher levels of fructose or weight gain have a lower probability of making a choice in the olfactometer. Wasps with intermediate fructose levels or weight gain have a higher probability of orienting towards hosts than wasps with low or high levels. Among wasps that make a choice in the olfactometer, wasps fed 10% or 25% sucrose significantly prefer host versus food cues, whereas starved wasps are just as likely to select food cues as host cues.     

Effect of six sugars on the longevity,oviposition performance and nutrition accumulation in an endoparasitoid,Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The effects of six sugar resources (fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, raffinose and honey) on the longevity, oviposition performance and nutrition levels of Meteorus pulchricornis, a thelytokous larval endoparasitoid of the common cutworm Spodoptera litura were examined under laboratory conditions. Female adults of M. pulchricornis fed 1 M fructose, glucose, trehalose or sucrose solutions survived longer than those fed on other sugar solutions or water. When provided with honey or sucrose solutions, the female parasitoids laid more offspring than those fed other sugar diets or the control. The body size of offspring driven from honey-, fructose-, sucrose-, and glucose-fed females, along with water-fed group, were larger than the trehalose- and raffinose-fed females. However, the emergence rates of all offspring generated from different sugars- and water-fed females were similar. When separately given honey, sucrose or fructose, M. pulchricornis females accumulated fructose at a higher level than the other groups. Parasitoid wasps fed trehalose solution accumulated the highest level of total sugar. Glycogen levels and lipid content were highest at emergence and then decreased across all diets. In addition, females fed on trehalose had the highest level of glycogen compared to other sugar diets and water control regardless of emergency level. Females fed trehalsoe, fructose, and glucose solutions had a higher level of lipid than those fed other sugar solutions and water at life end. The outcome of this study can benefit both laboratory rearing and management interventions that improve sugar sources for the parasitoid in the field.     

Effect of six carbohydrate sources on the longevity of a whitefly parasitoid Eretmocerus hayati (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Parasitoid adults often acquire carbohydrates by feeding on floral nectar and honeydew which provides them with energy and prolongs their life span. The concentration and type of saccharide in nectar and honeydew are variable by species of plant and insect. To explore the effects of various sugar type and concentrations on parasitoid fitness, we compared 5%, 10% and 20% (w/v) solutions of six different sugar resources (glucose, fructose, sucrose, trehalose, melezitose and honey) on the longevity of Eretmocerus hayati, a larval parasitoid of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci in China. Male and female longevity was increased by all of the sugar diets, but female wasps survived longer than the males when the same sugar diet was supplied. Female parasitoids feeding on 10% glucose and 10% honey increased longevity, respectively up to 6.2- and 5.9-fold longer than distil water; 5% honey and 10% fructose had the greatest effects on male longevity, up to 3.5- and 3.3-fold. All six sugar diets, no matter which concentration, significantly changed the survival curves. Glucose, sucrose and honey were optimal sugar diets for this wasp, and 10% was the optimal concentration. Our results could provide an insight into the nutritional requirements of E. hayati under laboratory conditions. Such information can be a basis to improve the longevity of this biological control agent by sugar feeding during the indoor mass-rearing process.     

Developmental time,longevity, reproductive capacity and sex ratio of the mealybug parasitoid Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Key biological parameters of Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci reared on the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) were determined. The mean longevity of female wasps was 21.1 days, the median lethal time (LT₅₀) was 22 days, the mean number of offspring per female was 30.2 wasps and the sex ratio of the progeny was slightly male biased (1.1 males per female). Wasps fed with water showed a significantly lower longevity compared to that recorded for wasps fed with syrup for bee nutrition mixed with water. The longevity of female wasps was significantly higher compared to males when the syrup-water solution was provided as food. Longevity was significantly higher for female wasps fed with syrup and water in comparison with those exposed to host mealybugs. The mean development time of female and male wasps was 14.7±0.1 and 14.5±0.1 days, respectively.     

The effect of different dietary sugars and honey on longevity and fecundity in two hyperparasitoid wasps

In nature adult insects, such as parasitic wasps or 'parasitoids' often depend on supplemental nutritional sources, such as sugars and other carbohydrates, to maximize their life-expectancy and reproductive potential. These food resources are commonly obtained from animal secretions or plant exudates, including honeydew, fruit juices and both floral and extra-floral nectar. In addition to exogenous sources of nutrition, adult parasitoids obtain endogenous sources from their hosts through 'host-feeding' behavior, whereby blood is imbibed from the host. Resources obtained from the host contain lipids, proteins and sugars that are assumed to enhance longevity and/or fecundity. Here we conducted an experiment exploring the effects of naturally occurring sugars on longevity and fecundity in the solitary hyperparasitoids, Lysibia nana and Gelis agilis. Although both species are closely related, L. nana does not host-feed whereas G. agilis does. In a separate experiment, we compared reproduction and longevity in G. agilis reared on either honey, a honey-sugar 'mimic', and glucose. Reproductive success and longevity in both hyperparasitoids varied significantly when fed on different sugars. However, only mannose- and water-fed wasps performed significantly more poorly than wasps fed on four other sugar types. G. agilis females fed honey produced twice as many progeny as those reared on the honey-sugar mimic or on glucose, whereas female longevity was only reduced on the mimic mixture. This result shows not only that host feeding influences reproductive success in G. agilis, but also that non-sugar constituents in honey do. The importance of non-sugar nutrients in honey on parasitoid reproduction is discussed.     

Sugar feeding reduces short-term activity of a parasitoid wasp

Abstract.  Adding sugar to agricultural habitats is expected to enhance pest control by improving the longevity and physiological status of parasitoids. How a sugar diet and physiological parameters affect the host-foraging behaviour of Diadegma insulare , a parasitoid of diamondback moth larvae ( Plutella xylostella ), is investigated in the laboratory. Newly-emerged females are given water or sucrose-water ad libitum for 1 day, and then monitored for movement onto and away from a single cabbage leaf infested with 30 host larvae for 1 h. A significantly lower percentage of sucrose-fed females enter the host patch than those with access to only water (starved) females (60% vs. 91%). Of the females that enter the patch, fed wasps spend significantly less time in the patch than starved wasps (32.2 vs. 25.7 min) but feeding does not significantly affect oviposition rate. Fed and starved females sting six to seven larvae, and 19–29% of females superparasitize host larvae. Wasps with higher levels of fructose are less likely to enter the host patch than wasps with lower fructose levels. The lower proportion of fed wasps entering the patch may be due to a period of inactivity after sugar feeding.     

Comparing the effects of five naturally occurring monosaccharide and oligosaccharide sugars on longevity and carbohydrate nutrient levels of a parasitic phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis

Abstract.  The longevity and nutrient levels of Pseudacteon tricuspis provided with 1  m solutions of five naturally occurring sugars, fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose and melezitose, are compared. All but melezitose, result in significant increases in the longevity of P. tricuspis in comparison with sugar-starved flies (flies provided with water only). Sugar-starved female and male P. tricuspis have an average longevity of 3.3 and 4.1 days, respectively. Provision of free water in addition to sugar solution is necessary for optimum longevity by female and male flies. Longevity is increased by 2.4–2.6-fold by the two monosaccharides, fructose and glucose, and by 2.6–2.8-fold by the disaccharides, sucrose and trehalose. Phorid flies provided with the trisaccharide sugar, melezitose, had a marginal increase in lifespan (approximately 1 day), but this is not significantly different from the longevity of sugar-starved flies. Significantly greater levels of total sugars are detected in P. tricuspis fed the disaccharide sugars (sucrose, trehalose) or the monosaccharide sugars (fructose, glucose), compared with flies provided with melezitose (trisaccharide), or to sugar-starved flies. Fructose is not detected in sugar-starved flies, or in flies fed glucose or trehalose. However, high levels of fructose are detected in flies fed sucrose or fructose, whereas levels of fructose in melezitose-fed flies are intermediate. In general, significantly greater glycogen levels are detected in P. tricuspis fed sucrose, glucose, trehalose or fructose, compared with melezitose-fed or sugar-starved flies. Levels of total sugars and glycogen in sugar-fed flies are positively correlated with wing length, possibly indicating a higher accumulation of storage sugars by larger flies. These results are discussed in relation to the nutritional ecology of the phorid fly.     

Sugar feeding by the aphid parasitoid Binodoxys communis: how does honeydew compare with other sugar sources?

Parasitoids commonly forage in agricultural settings where the predominant sugar source is homopteran honeydew. The aphidiine braconid, Binodoxys communis, is an Asian parasitoid currently being released against the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, in North American soybean fields. We conducted a number of laboratory experiments evaluating the quality of A. glycines honeydew as a sugar source for this parasitoid. Wasps readily fed on droplets of A. glycines honeydew, honey and 50% sucrose solution, but the length of feeding bouts on honey was significantly longer than on the other foods. Parasitoids lived significantly longer when fed honey or sucrose than honeydew, while starved wasps had the shortest lifespan. At 21+/-1 degrees C and 25+/-5% R.H., male B. communis that were fed honey lived for a maximum of 14 days, while females lived up to 20 days. Honeydew-fed wasps of both sexes lived approximately 3 days on average, which was 2-3 times longer than when they were only allowed access to water. Anthrone tests of whole insects showed that total sugar and glycogen levels of honey or sucrose-fed individuals were consistently higher than those fed honeydew or water. The glycogen levels of honeydew-fed wasps increased significantly after one day of feeding. HPLC analyses revealed that B. communis readily assimilates A. glycines honeydew oligosaccharides such as erlose, while others (e.g., raffinose) did not degenerate. Raffinose was present in much higher amounts in honeydew-fed wasps than in wasps fed other diets, so this sugar could be used as a 'signature' sugar for this species. Honeydew-fed wasps also had significantly lower fructose/(fructose+glucose) ratios than those from other diet treatments. Although A. glycines honeydew might be the main carbohydrate source within a soybean field, other sugar sources such as floral nectar appear to be more optimal foods for B. communis from a physiological standpoint. We discuss the results from the perspective of classical biological control of the soybean aphid in North America.