Changes in haemolymph proteins of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), associated with parasitism by the braconid parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson)

Changes in haemolymph proteins of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, associated with parasitism by the parasitoid Cotesia (= Apanteles) marginiventris were monitored by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. As early as hour 4 after parasitization treatment, several electrophoretically slow-migrating, high-molecular-weight proteins were detected in the host's haemolymph. These proteins were detected earlier in haemolymph from parasitized larvae than in haemolymph from control larvae, and their concentrations were higher in heavily parasitized host larvae (≥ 3 eggs/host) than in lightly parasitized larvae (1 egg/host). Additionally, unique proteins that migrated electrophoretically with bovine serum albumin appeared in the haemolymph of parasitized larvae at hour 8 after parasitization treatment and were evident in haemolymph collected through to hour 64.