Patch leaving decision rules and the Marginal Value Theorem: an experimental analysis and a simulation model

The patch exploitation strategy of females of the insect parasitoid Trichogramma brassicae was studied on patches containing different proportions of hosts that were previously attacked by conspecificfemales. On average, T. brassicae females spent more time onpatches of higher quality, and all patches were reduced tothe same level of profitability before being left. This appearedto be in accordance to the optimal predictions of the CharnovMarginal Value Theorem. The proximate leaving mechanisms involvedwere analyzed by means of a Cox proportional hazards model.Each oviposition in a healthy host appeared to have an incremental influence on the patch residence time, whereas each rejectionof a healthy host or of a host that was previously attackedby the same female (i.e., self-superparasitism) had a decrementaleffect. These patch leaving mechanisms did not change accordingto the quality of the patch the females were exploiting. AMonte Carlo simulation was developed around the results of the Cox regression model. The results suggest that this set of patchleaving rules seems to provide the females with a sufficientway to reach the predictions of the Charnov model. Among thedifferent mechanisms involved, the incremental effect associatedwith each oviposition in a healthy host appeared to play the most important role. The relationship between the proximatemechanistic rules adopted by the females and the ultimate predictionof the Charnov model is discussed.     

The relationship between egg load and fecundity among Trichogramma parasitoids

1. The relationships between parasitoid egg load, size, and age (3–72 h) for Trichogramma minutum, T. platneri, and T. pretiosum, reared from two factitious hosts, Ephestia kuehniella and Sitotroga cerealella, were evaluated to test the hypothesis that 24‐h egg load can be used to estimate the fecundity of Trichogramma parasitoids. 2. Egg load increased in relation to female age over the first 3 days of adult life for all three Trichogramma species to a mean egg storage capacity of 46.7 eggs for T. minutum, 41.1 for T. pretiosum, and 35.7 for T. platneri. At 24 h of age, T. minutum had matured enough eggs to fill 67% of its storage capacity, in comparison with 74% for T. pretiosum and 91% for T. platneri. There was a positive relationship between egg load and parasitoid size for all ages of the three Trichogramma species reared from both hosts (with the exception of T. platneri at 3 h post emergence), accounting for 14–69% of the variance in egg load. 3. The potential fecundity, realised (3 day cumulative) fecundity, and oviposition rate (potential fecundity/longevity) of T. platneri were all related linearly to size‐dependent variation in 24‐h egg load, but only the realised fecundity of T. pretiosum, and none of the reproductive characteristics of T. minutum. It is suggested that 24‐h egg load may not be an accurate measure of egg storage capacity in parasitoids and should be used cautiously to represent fecundity. 4. The potential fecundity of seven Trichogramma species reared from E. kuehniella varied from 55 to 150, but neither potential fecundity nor oviposition rate was related significantly to egg load (represented by eggs laid during first 24 h). Selection to avoid egg depletion in the attack of gregarious hosts appears most likely to account for the variation in potential fecundity among Trichogramma species.     

玉米螟赤眼蜂雄性生殖力的研究

根据膜翅目寄生蜂未受精的卵发育为雄性个体,受精卵发育成雌性个体这一性别决定机制,考察了玉米螟赤眼蜂雄蜂生殖力的大小,探讨了雄蜂授精能力与个体大小、年龄及交配次数之间的关系。结果表明,玉米螟赤眼蜂雄蜂在羽化时或羽化后很短的时间内其精巢就已发育成熟,成虫期不再形成新的精子。雄蜂在羽化后立即可与雌蜂进行交配,在雌蜂过量的情况下,24 h内就可能将体内的精子或精液消耗尽,24 h后的雄蜂虽能与雌蜂继续交尾,但雌蜂所繁育的子代中未见有雌性个体。同一雄蜂能与多头雌蜂进行交尾,授精8～23头雌蜂,平均能繁育出346.15头雌性后代。雄蜂的授精能力与交配次数密切相关,授精量随交配次数增加而逐渐下降。首次交配时,雄蜂能给雌蜂提供较多的精子,约能繁育出58.85头雌性后代,但随着交配次数的增加,雄蜂向雌蜂输送的精子越来越少,10次交配之后,雄蜂所能授精、繁育的子代雌性数将不超过10头。以后足胫节长度表示个体大小时,体型较大的雄性个体进行多次交配的能力强,能繁育更多的雌性后代。     

双酰胺类杀虫剂对棉铃虫和松毛虫赤眼蜂的选择毒力

为了指导棉铃虫防控中化学杀虫剂和天敌昆虫协调使用,本文采用浸叶法和玻管药膜法测定了4种双酰胺类杀虫剂对棉铃虫3龄幼虫和松毛虫赤眼蜂成蜂的毒力.结果表明,供试双酰胺类杀虫剂中氯虫苯甲酰胺、氟苯虫酰胺和氟氰虫酰胺对棉铃虫幼虫表现出了较高的毒力水平(LC50分别为0.2882、0.3894、0.8609 mg/L),稍低于对照药剂甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐(简称:甲维盐)(LC50为0.06493 mg/L);而溴氰虫酰胺对棉铃虫的毒力(LC50为3.7638 mg/L)明显低于甲维盐.从对天敌昆虫安全性来看,氯虫苯甲酰胺、氟苯虫酰胺和氟氰虫酰胺对松毛虫赤眼蜂的毒性(LC50分别为1.0060、0.9933、1.1541 mg/L)明显低于甲维盐(其LC50为0.1646 mg/L),表现出了较高的安全性;但是,溴氰虫酰胺对松毛虫赤眼蜂毒性较高(LC50为0.4952 mg/L),安全性较差.本研究将为棉铃虫防控中药剂与天敌协调使用提供依据.     

Efficacy of Trichogramma wasps for controlling tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta

Tomato is considered as one of the most essential vegetables after potato in Egypt. Tomato is infested by many insects; one of these serious insects is tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta, which causes yield losses up to 100%. T absoluta is attacking leaves, flowers, stems and fruits. Trichogramma species is playing an important role in reducing this insect infestation. Efficiency of Trichogramma evanescens alone and in combination with insecticides were assessed against T. absoluta in tomato fields. Three release rates 500, 1000 and 1500 parasitized egg/card as well as 2 insecticides (Dimilin and Corgen) were applied. Number of normal and parasitized eggs, live and dead larvae and tunnel numbers were recorded. The results revealed that T. absoluta eggs were higher in control plots than those counted in Trichogramma plots. Among Trichogramma release rates, higher release rates, obtained higher parasitism rates of Tuta eggs (reached to 50%). Companying Trichogramma with IGR Dimilin had a little side effect on parasitism rate which it was smaller compared to plots of Trichogramma alone. Dimilin (IGR) caused reducing in Tuta larval population, which it differed significantly compared to control plots. Another IGR, Coragen resulted increasing the mortality of Tuta larvae than other treatments. In Trichogramma release rates, higher release rates, lower number of tunnels were found. In plots of companying Trichogramma with Coragen, the lowest tunnel numbers were recorded. Field release of T. evancences would be a promise biocontrol agent to suppress T. absoluta. These findings may encourage using T. evancences as a favorable strategy for integrated management of T. absoluta to produce safe tomato.     

四种杀菌剂对玉米螟赤眼蜂酚氧化酶活性的影响

为明确杀菌剂对玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen毒性大小及其成蜂体内酚氧化酶（phenoloxidase, PO）活性影响, 本实验通过测定三唑酮（triadimefon）、 肟菌脂（trifloxystrobin）、 咪鲜胺（prochloraz）、 申嗪霉素（phenazino-1-carboxylic acid）4种杀菌剂对玉米螟赤眼蜂的急性毒性, 并分别测定活体和离体条件下各杀菌剂处理后酚氧化酶的比活性。结果表明, 各药剂对赤眼蜂的急性毒性大小为： 三唑酮＞咪鲜胺＞肟菌酯＞申嗪霉素, 其LC₅₀值分别为3.27, 6.46, 4.06和 9.72 mg/L, 其安全系数依次为0.07, 0.10, 0.20和1.47, 其中申嗪霉素为中等风险性, 其余3种药剂为高风险性, 且杀菌剂明显激活了PO的活性。活体条件下亚致死剂量处理得到的PO比活力高于离体处理, 且三唑酮处理组具有明显的剂量效应。本实验为研究杀菌剂对赤眼蜂的毒性及对PO的影响作了初步的探索, 为进一步研究赤眼蜂对杀菌剂的抗性及免疫能力奠定基础。     

不同温度下松毛虫赤眼蜂孤雌产雌品系和两性生殖品系对米蛾卵的寄生功能反应

赤眼蜂部分蜂种或品系受Wolbachia侵染营孤雌产雌生殖。 通过室内试验分析了在4个恒温（20, 25, 30和35℃）下松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimi两性生殖品系和孤雌产雌品系对米蛾Corcyra cephalonica卵的寄生功能反应, 旨在比较不同温度两品系的寄生功能反应差异, 评价孤雌产雌品系在生物防治中的应用潜力。 结果表明： 松毛虫赤眼蜂两个品系对米蛾卵寄生作用均随寄主密度的增加而增大;随温度的升高松毛虫赤眼蜂两品系的功能反应类型由Ⅲ型改变为Ⅱ型。孤雌产雌品系以30℃的处置时间最短(0.0207 d), 最大日寄生量为48.31粒卵, 其次是25℃, 35℃最小;两性生殖品系以25℃的处置时间最短(0.0188 d), 最大日寄生量为53.08粒卵, 其次是30℃, 20℃最小; 松毛虫赤眼蜂两品系的寄生功能反应存在显著差异, 30℃下孤雌产雌品系为Ⅱ型功能反应而两性生殖品系为Ⅲ型。 从处置时间来看, 20℃时两品系无显著性差异(P≥0.05), 在25℃和35℃孤雌产雌品系寄生米蛾卵时花费的时间显著长于两性生殖品系(P<0.05), 而30℃却相反。 可见, 寄主密度、 温度和Wolbachia影响松毛虫赤眼蜂功能反应。     

两种抗生素对携带Wolbachia的短管赤眼蜂生殖模式的影响

携带有Wolbachia的短管赤眼蜂为完全的产雌孤雌生殖。前期的实验表明,利用四环素对携带有Wolbachia的短管赤眼蜂进行除菌处理,但结果并不能获得100%恢复孤雌产雄。本实验拟用环丙沙星与磺胺嘧啶这两种抗生素对携带有Wolbachia的短管赤眼蜂进行除菌效果筛选。实验分3组药剂处理,分别为使用环丙沙星、磺胺嘧啶及环丙沙星与磺胺嘧啶1:1混配液进行除菌处理。各组实验分别进行浓度为0.1 mg/mL、1.0 mg/mL和10.0 mg/mL 3个浓度处理。以无抗生素蜂蜜水处理作为实验对照组。分别检测、记录各处理的F0 - F1代的寄生卵量,F1 - F2代羽化个体数、雌雄个体数,雌雄相嵌体的个体数。结果表明：磺胺嘧啶对短管赤眼蜂的F0代产卵量降低,但F1代恢复产卵量;仅有0.1 mg/mL环丙沙星与磺胺嘧啶1:1混配液对短管赤眼蜂F2代的卵羽化率具有抑制作用,其它的处理与对照组结果无差异。环丙沙星处理后的携带Wolbachia的短管赤眼蜂没出现雄性后代,浓度为0.1 mg/mL环丙沙星与磺胺嘧啶1:1混配液处理在F2代出现了雌雄相嵌体。浓度为1.0 mg/mL和10 mg/mL的环丙沙星与磺胺嘧啶1:1混配液处理和磺胺嘧啶处理在F2代出现了完全雄性后代。使用磺胺嘧啶处理携带Wolbachia的短管赤眼蜂,可更方便快捷获得100%雄性后代。     

两种赤眼蜂在半自然条件下对灰白蚕蛾卵的搜索寄生能力

灰白蚕蛾Ocinara varians Walker是近几年来我国南方发生比较严重的园林害虫之一,赤眼蜂是其卵期的一种重要天敌,为寻找灰白蚕蛾有效的生物防治措施,本实验研究了半自然条件下松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura和短管赤眼蜂Trichogramma pretiosum Riley对灰白蚕蛾卵的搜索寄生能力。实验结果表明,在挂卵量相同的情况下,3种不同经历的松毛虫赤眼蜂和短管赤眼蜂对灰白蚕蛾卵的搜索能力都随蜂卵比的减小而降低。在各蜂卵比下,3种不同处理的松毛虫赤眼蜂对灰白蚕蛾卵的寄生率明显高于相应地3种不同处理的短管赤眼蜂。在蜂卵比为1∶1时,具有羽化后学习经历的松毛虫赤眼蜂对灰白蚕蛾卵的搜索能力最强,其寄生率达50.66%,显著高于幼期学习蜂和无经验蜂,而幼期学习经历对其搜索效果无明显地影响。短管赤眼蜂无论是羽化后学习经历还是幼期学习经历对其搜索行为均无明显影响。