Stable isotope analysis for assessing the intercrop movement of Microplitis mediator,a larval endoparasitoid of Helicoverpa armigera |
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| Authors: | Qian Zhang Long Yang Min-Long Li Yong-Qiang Liu Yan-Hui Lu |
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| Institution: | State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193 China |
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| Abstract: | Methods to trace source habitats and movement of parasitic natural enemies in agroecosystems are limited. This study demonstrates that stable carbon isotope analysis offers a valuable new method for revealing the movement of Microplitis mediator (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval endoparasitoid of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), between C3 and C4 plants. Results indicate that M. mediator with δ13C values of lower than ?22‰ originate from a C3 plant, whereas those with δ13C values of higher than ?19‰ develop on a C4 plant. |
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| Keywords: | C3 plant C4 plant carbon isotope analysis Hymenoptera Lepidoptera Braconidae Noctuidae source habitat agroecosystem cotton maize conservation management |
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