Effects of methoprene and juvenile hormone on larval ecdysis,emergence, and metamorphosis of the endoparasitic wasp, Apanteles congregatus

Topical application of juvenile hormone I and III or the hormone analogue methoprene to parasitized Manduca sexta larvae inhibited subsequent emergence of the endoparasitic wasp Apanteles congregatus. Methoprene treatment inhibited wasp emergence in a dose-dependent manner, causing either a delay or total inhibition of emergence. These results were interpreted as reflecting inhibitory effects of juvenile hormone on the second-larval ecdysis of the parasitoid that normally occurs during emergence from the host larva. Parasitoid ecdysis was disrupted even when methoprene was applied to host larvae a few hours prior to the normal expected time of emergence. A correlation between the number of emerging parasitoids and the timing of emergence was seen in methoprene-treated hosts, and few parasitoids emerged after day 9 of the host's fifth-instar. Our findings suggest that the suppression of emergence by juvenile hormone analogues noted in previous studies may be due to a similar inhibitory effect on parasitoid ecdysis. We also observed that parasitoids emerging from hosts treated with a low dose of methoprene (1 μg) later pupated normally but then formed nonviable pupal-adult intermediates. Thus use of this insect growth regulator must be undertaken carefully to prevent possible adverse effects on natural parasitoid populations.     

中国绒茧蜂属一新种（膜翅目：茧蜂科）

报道采自中国云南的小腹茧蜂亚科Microgastrinae绒茧蜂属Apanteles Forsters.str,1新种,即瘦鞘绒茧蜂Apanteles petilicaudium sp.nov。模式标本保存于福建农林大学植物保护学院益虫室。     

Modelling age‐ and density‐structured reproductive biology and seasonal survival of Apanteles galleriae Wilkinson (Hym., Braconidae)

Abstract: The biology of Apanteles galleriae Wilkinson, an important biological control agent of wax moths, is well described in the literature. We developed models simulating the functional response of fecundity and female progeny proportion of adult females as a function of age, host and/or parasitoid density to integrate current knowledge. Daily pattern of age‐related fecundity and female progeny proportion of different parasitoids was also examined. We investigated the effect of sex, mating status and seasonal time on adult longevity. We derived survival data of females in two different seasonal periods. We found that 50% of adult life span is important for an efficient fecundity. The patterns of host and/or parasitoid density‐dependent fecundity and sex ratio varied considerably. The highest fecundity and female progeny proportion occurred with one parasitoid and one female equivalent host. Longevity of adults was affected by sex and month periods, but mating status did not affect their longevity. Female survival was greater between December and May relative to June and November. Our results indicated that age, host and parasitoid density, and the timing of rearing influenced the life processes of parasitoids.     

二化螟盘绒茧蜂及稻虱缨小蜂对挥发物的嗅觉反应

【目的】揭示二化螟盘绒茧蜂Apanteles chilonis Munakata与稻虱缨小蜂Anagrus nilaparvatae对单一水稻挥发物组分的选择行为,了解水稻挥发物在其寄主搜寻过程中的作用,为水稻害虫寄生蜂引诱剂的研发提供技术基础。【方法】利用Y型嗅觉仪测定了二化螟盘绒茧蜂与稻虱缨小蜂对11种水稻挥发物组分(反-2-己烯醛、α-蒎烯、乙酸叶醇酯、芳樟醇、β-石竹烯、反-3-己烯醛、水杨酸甲酯、罗勒烯、苯甲醛、2-壬酮、柠檬烯)的嗅觉行为反应。【结果】β-石竹烯(10、50μg/kg)、罗勒烯(0.1、1、10μg/kg)、2-壬酮(10μg/kg)及反-2-己烯醛(50μg/kg)对二化螟盘绒茧蜂行为具有显著影响;稻虱缨小蜂对反-2-己烯醛(50μg/kg)、反-3-己烯醛(1、10、50μg/kg)、芳樟醇(0.1、1、10μg/kg)、β-石竹烯(0.1、50μg/kg)、罗勒烯(1μg/kg)、α-蒎烯(1μg/kg)和水杨酸甲酯(0.1、1、10、50μg/kg)有显著的嗅觉反应。【结论】寄生蜂对水稻挥发性气味的识别与挥发物的种类和浓度有很大关系,研发水稻害虫寄生蜂的引诱剂时需考虑挥发物的种类与浓度。     

Testis development in Pieris brassicae parasitized by Apanteles glomeratus

Testis development in Pieris brassicae (L.) parasitized as 1-day-old larvae by Apanteles glomeratus (L.) is considerably retarded from the second-instar onward. Testicular volume is only one sixth and testicular wall thickness only one quarter that of the normal testes at the end of the fifth larval instar. Nevertheless, bundles of sperm are formed in parasitized larvae. After interrupted oviposition, leading to the lowest possible level of parasitism, the effects are of the same magnitude as in more heavily parasitized hosts at comparable age. No significant correlation between number of parasitoids and retardation inflicted is found. The possible source of the effect of parasitism is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Bei den unparasitierten Wirten läuft die gesamte Hodenentwicklung während der Larvenzeit ab. Bei parasitierten Wirten ist der Entwicklungszeitplan identisch, aber das Hodenvolumen bleibt in Larvenstadium auf einem Sechstel und die Hodenwand (Peritonealhülle und Follikelwand) auf einem Viertel in der normalen Werte. Die allmählich hervortretenden Veränderungen beginnen bereits beim zweiten Larvenstadium des Wirtes. Trotz der Veränderungen entwickeln sich auch in den parasitierten Hoden zeitplangemäss Spermienbündel, deren Fertilität jedoch nach ihrem histologischen Aussehen fragwürdig erscheint. Durch eine Unterbrechung der Eiablage des Parasitenweibchens nach 3-sekundiger Ablage konnte ein schwacher Parasitismus hervorgerufen werden, bei dem die Anzahl der Parasitenlarven pro Wirt von 1–8 variierte. Die bei diesen Wirten beobachteten Veränderungen der Hoden waren gleicher Art und gleich gross wie bei stark parasitiertem Material. Eine gute Korrelation zwischen der Zahl der Parasitlarven pro Wirt und der Intensität der pathologischen Veränderungen konnte nicht festgestellt werden. Mögliche Gründe der vom Parasitismus verursachten Veränderungen werden diskutiert. Dafür kommen vor allem die Parasitenlarven ersten und zweiten Stadiums in Frage, aber der eventuelle Anteil des eierlegenden Parasitenweibchens wird auch berücksichtigt.

     

Characteristic of parasitism of diamondback moth by two larval parasites

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to investigate the suitability of 2 hymenopterous parasites,Diadegma eucerophaga Horstmann andApanteles plutellae Kurdjumov for introduction to control diamondback moth (DBM),Plutella xylostella (L.), a destructive pest of crucifers in tropical to subtropical Southeast Asia. Parasitism byD. eucerophaga was high at temperature range of 15°C to 25°C and that ofA. plutellae, at 20°C to 35°C. Both parasites were active in searching for host and oviposited only during photophase. No parasitism was observed during darkness. WhereasA. plutellae could parasitize all instars of DBM larvae,D. eucerophaga parasitized only the first 3 instars and failed to parasitize the 4^th. Parasitism byD. eucerophaga was greater when DBM larvae were feeding on common cabbage (Brassica oleracea var.capitata L.), than on cauliflower (B. oleracea var.italica L.), broccoli (B. oleracea var.botrytis L.) or Chinese cabbage [Brassica campestris L. ssp.pekinensis (Lour) Olsson].A. plutellae parasitism was greater when DBM larvac were feeding on Chinese cabbage than on common cabbage, cauliflower or broccoli. Storage of pupae at 0°C and 4°C to 6°C for up to 2 weeks reduced emergence ofD. eucerophaga adults more than that ofA. plutellae. A non-selective insecticide, deltamethrin, was toxic to adults of both parasites but selective ones such asBacillus thuringiensis, teflubenzuron, and pirimicarb were not. Pupae were more tolerant than adults to insecticides. The insecticide-resistant Luchu strain and susceptible laboratory strain of DBM suffered an equal level of parasitism by both parasites.      

Endokrinologische Untersuchungen an dem Wirt-Parasit-System: Pieris brassicae-Apanteles glomeratus

Die von Apanteles glomeratus L. parasitierten Raupen von Pieris brassicae zeigen in Abhängigkeit des Parasitierungstermins eine deutliche Veränderung des Juvenilhormon (JH)-Titer-Verlaufs während des letzten Larvenstadiums. Dabei tritt ein steiler Anstieg des JH-Gehaltes der Wirtshämolymphe im Zusammenhang mit der Häutung der Parasitenlarven vom 1. zum 2. Larvenstadium auf. Aufgrund von Ligations-experimenten konnte nachgewiesen werden, daß die Parasitenlarven selbst für den erhöhten JH-Titer ihrer Wirtsraupen verantwortlich sind, indem sie während ihrer Häutungsphase anscheinend JH in die Wirtshämolymphe abgeben.Eine durch die Parasitierung gesteigerte Syntheseaktivität läßt sich aus den Befunden histologischer Schnitte der Corpora allata frühparasitierter Raupen nicht feststellen. Dagegen weisen die Prothoraxdrüsen parasitierter Raupen zur Mitte des letzten Stadiums eine deutlich kleinere Querschnittsfläche auf als unparasitierte Tiere. Eine dadurch im Zusammenhang mit dem erhöhten JH-Titer bestehende Beziehung zur Häutungsunfähigkeit parasitierter Pieris-Raupen am Ende des letzten Larvenstadiums wird diskutiert.

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Summary The effects of parasitism by Apanteles glomeratus on the hemolymph juvenile hormone (JH) titers of Pieris brassicae during the last larval instar were determined using the Galleria bioassay.Depending on the time of parasitization, a significant increase of the JH titer could be observed when moulting of the parasites from the first to the second larval instar occurred.As neck-ligatured, parasitized Pieris larvae showed a similar increase of the JH titer at this time, it is concluded that the parasite larvae themselves are responsible for the elevation of the titer by delivering JH during their ecdysis into the host's hemolymph.This is supported by histological results from the corpora allata of parasitized and unparasitized caterpillars at the first and third day of the last larval instar, indicating no differences in its secretory activity. The prothoracid glands of parasitized host larvae, however, appear significantly smaller than those of comparable unparasitized ones in the middle of the last instar. A reduced secretory activity at this time, which is assumed from their decreased size, combined with an elevated JH titer may explain why parasitized larvae fail to moult at the end of their larval development.

     

Parasites of the spotted stalk borer,Chilo partellus [Lepidoptera: Pyralidae] in South Africa

One egg parasite, 7 larval parasites, 2 pupal parasites and 3 larval hyperparasites were recorded parasitizing the spotted stalk borer,Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) on maize and grain sorghum in South Africa.Trichogrammatoidea lutea Girault [Trichogrammatidae] parasitized eggs ofC. partellus mainly in mid-summer. The larval parasites were active throughout the season with occasional peaks of up to 75% parasitism.Apanteles sesamiae Cameron [Braconidae], proved to be the most abundant larval parasite. It was recorded fromca. 93% of parasitized larvae but its efficiency was reduced by the hyperparasite,Aphanogmus fijiensis (Ferriére) [Ceraphronidae], which reached sometimes up to 100% parasitism on cocoons ofA. sesamiae. The efficiency ofIphiaulax sp. [Braconidae], the 2^nd most abundant larval parasite, was also hindered by the hyperparasite,Eurytoma sp. [Eurytomidae] Pupal parasites were sometimes very abundant reaching up to 100% parasitism without any interference by hyperparasites. The most abundant pupal parasites wereDentichasmias busseolae Heinrich [Ichneumonidae] andPediobius furvus (Gahan) [Eulophidae].      

Potential for lab rearing of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apanteles taragamae</Emphasis>, the larval endoparasitoid of coconut pest <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opisina arenosella</Emphasis>, on the rice moth <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corcyra cephalonica</Emphasis>

A lab rearing technique was standardised for Apanteles taragamae Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), the early larval parasitoid of the coconut leaf-eating caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker on the alternate host Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The parasitoid took 23.3 ± 3.2 days to complete the egg to adult period. Adult longevity for males and females was 15.3 ± 4.6 and 13.8 ± 4.6 days respectively. Fecundity was 14.8 ± 4.3 eggs per female. The percentage parasitism was 60.6 ± 5.7 on the alternative host C. cephalonica and 64.6 ± 5.5 on the natural host O. arenosella. Eight- to ten-day-old caterpillars were the ideal stage of C. cephalonica for rearing A. taragamae. The results indicated the amenability of rearing A. taragamae on C. cephalonica in the laboratory.     

Endocrine alteration and precocious premetamorphic behaviors in the greater wax moth larvae,Galleria mellonella,parasitized by an endoparasitoid,Apanteles galleriae

Parasitization of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralididae) larvae by a larval endoparasitoid Apanteles galleriae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) leads to the precocious expression of premetamorphic behavior in the sixth (normally penultimate) instar host larvae prior to the parasitoid's emergence. We investigated the role of parasitization with A. galleriae on the alteration of development and/or behavior of its host. The ecdysteroid titer in the hemolymph of parasitized sixth instar larvae (the last instar of parasitized larvae) was higher than that of unparasitized ones, and the high ecdysteroid concentrations induced premetamorphic behaviors such as wandering and cocoon spinning. However, the epidermis of the parasitized larvae was not pupally committed through this stage. The activity of JH esterase in the parasitized larvae remained low, and application of a JH analogue to these larvae caused the production of a larval-type cocoon. These facts suggest that the parasitization by A. galleriae induces precocious premetamorphic behaviors of G. mellonella larvae by changing host endocrine conditions without causing the typical larval-pupal metamorphosis. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 34:257–273, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.