2,802 results on '"Pteromalidae"'
Search Results
2. Morphological allometry of three hymenopteran ectoparasitoids of stored-product insect pests.
- Author
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KENTO HIRATA and KÔJI SASAKAWA
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COWPEA weevil , *INSECT pests , *BODY size , *ALLOMETRY , *PTEROMALIDAE - Abstract
Allometric analysis provides an insight into the function and diversifi cation mechanisms of body parts in organisms. The allometry and variability in size of various body parts of three hymenopteran species, Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard), Anisopteromalus quinarius Gokhman & Baur, and Heterospilus prosopidis Viereck, which are solitary ectoparasitoids of storedproduct insect pests, were studied. The relationship between many of the traits measured and body size is negatively allometric, others were isometric, and none were positively allometric. The two species of Anisopteromalus were less variable in size than H. prosopidis and there were intersexual diff erences in both species of Anisopteromalus. Although the patterns in these diff erences are complex and diffi cult to interpret from an ecological perspective, based on information on their behaviour it is hypothesized that stabilizing selection is associated with the negative allometry of two traits: ovipositor length in at least two species and male leg length in both species of Anisopteromalus. This hypothesis is supported by the lower variability in the size of these body parts compared to other body parts examined in this study, which is typical of traits subject to stabilizing selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. How plant and insect host characteristics affect pepper weevil Anthonomus eugenii parasitism efficacy by the pteromalid Jaliscoa hunteri.
- Author
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Leo, Serena, Labbé, Roselyne, and Scott-Dupree, Cynthia
- Abstract
The pepper weevil Anthonomus eugenii (Cano) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an economically important pest of both field and greenhouse pepper crops, Capsicum annuum Linnaeus (Solanaceae) in North America. Among its natural enemies is the parasitoid wasp Jaliscoa (= Catolaccus) hunteri (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), whose potential control of A. eugenii appears promising but is currently unclear. We conducted controlled environment trials to quantify A. eugenii offspring emergence following exposure to J. hunteri, examining how parasitoid exposure period, weevil host life stage, pepper cultivar, fruit size and abscission status affect weevil-natural enemy dynamics. In pepper cultivar comparison trials, we identified a significant reduction in weevil offspring emergence from three different cultivars of ornamental peppers infested by A. eugenii, but no difference among them. In trials comparing wasp exposure period and weevil larval instar, pepper plants of one cultivar (Blaze) were exposed to A. eugenii adults, and subsequently to J. hunteri wasps for either three or seven days, when offspring weevils were either at the L1 or L3 instar. Offspring emergence was significantly reduced up to 62% when L3 but not L1 weevils were exposed to wasps for 7 days. Following this longer exposure period, significantly greater weevil suppression occurred in small (71.7%) versus large fruit (62.5%), with an additional 15.1% weevil suppression resulting from attached relative to abscised fruit. These results highlight the potential for J. hunteri as a biological control agent of A. eugenii on pepper crops, with particular value in commercial greenhouse production where wasp retention rates can be high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Parasitisation activity of Spalangia cameroni and Muscidifurax zaraptor, pupal parasitoids of Musca domestica.
- Author
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D'Arco, Sara, Costi, Elena, Prodi, Letizia, Yatman, Tutku, and Maistrello, Lara
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LIVESTOCK mortality , *LIVESTOCK housing , *LIVESTOCK farms , *HYMENOPTERA , *BIOLOGICAL pest control agents , *HOUSEFLY - Abstract
The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a significant pest in livestock farms and a major concern for both humans and farmed animals due to its ability to transmit over 200 pathogens. The use of pupal parasitoids is a sustainable strategy for controlling this pest. Spalangia cameroni Perkins (Hymenoptera: Spalangiidae) and Muscidifurax zaraptor Girault & Sanders (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) are commonly used as biocontrol agents for M. domestica. The objective of this study was to determine the oviposition peak of female parasitoids in relation to their age and the sex ratio of the adult progeny. For both species, 20 fresh M. domestica pupae (24–48 h old) were provided daily to each fertilised female for 14 days, after which the pupae were checked for parasitoid emergence. A control group of 20 pupae without female parasitoids was maintained. The results showed that S. cameroni had a higher overall percentage of parasitisation (57.7%) compared with M. zaraptor (32.4%). The parasitisation ratio of S. cameroni remained almost constant throughout the 14‐day period, whereas that of M. zaraptor decreased drastically after Day 11. Peak oviposition for S. cameroni was on Day 5 with 13 parasitised pupae per female, whereas M. zaraptor parasitised eight pupae per day on 4 days during its peak oviposition period (between Days 3 and 8). The newly emerged parasitoids had a skewed sex ratio towards females: 81% for S. cameroni and 66% for M. zaraptor. The presence of these parasitoid species resulted in fewer new house fly emergences than in the control group, where natural pupal mortality was lower in the absence of parasitoids. These findings may be useful for optimising the mass production and time‐use of the two parasitoid species for the management of house flies in livestock farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Effects of sub‐nanogram doses of acetamiprid, dimethoate, flupyradifurone, and sulfoxaflor on courtship, mating, and olfactory host finding of the parasitic wasp Lariophagus distinguendus.
- Author
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Schöfer, Nils, Ratschmann, Gabriel, and Ruther, Joachim
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PARASITIC wasps , *DIMETHOATE , *OLFACTORY receptors , *COURTSHIP , *FEED contamination , *INSECTICIDES , *WASPS - Abstract
Continued use and development of new insecticides are seen as a necessary part of modern agriculture, but insecticides, even at sublethal levels, may also affect beneficial non‐target species, such as pollinators, predators, and parasitic wasps. Here, we studied sublethal effects of four insecticides – acetamiprid, dimethoate, flupyradifurone, and sulfoxaflor – all targeting cholinergic neurons in insects, on sexual communication and olfactory host finding in the parasitic wasp Lariophagus distinguendus (Förster) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). We found that all four insecticides reduced, at least at one of the tested sublethal doses, pheromone‐mediated courtship behaviour (wing fanning) in males and the mating frequency of treated wasps. Treated females no longer preferred host‐associated kairomones. This suggests that the olfactory sense of the wasps is hampered by sublethal insecticide doses. The lowest bioactive doses tested in the bioassays were 0.021 ng for sulfoxaflor and 0.105 ng for acetamiprid, dimethoate, and flupyradifurone. These low amounts are field realistic and might be taken up by the wasps, e.g., by feeding contaminated plant nectar. Exposure to these compounds likely compromises the important ecosystem service provided by parasitic wasps as natural enemies in terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Geometric Morphometrics and Genetic Diversity Analysis of Chalcidoidea (Diglyphus and Pachyneuron) at Various Elevations.
- Author
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Xi, Ouyan, Zhang, Shuli, Li, Jinzhe, Hu, Hongying, and Bai, Ming
- Subjects
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BIOLOGICAL classification , *PARASITIC wasps , *GENETIC variation , *PTEROMALIDAE , *HAPLOTYPES - Abstract
Simple Summary: Parasitic wasps are natural enemies of numerous significant agricultural and forestry pests and therefore play an important role in biological control. With the development of integrative taxonomy, a greater variety of techniques are being applied to species identification. Therefore, integrated taxonomy was utilized in this study to identify parasitic wasps. Xinjiang is the largest province in China in terms of land area. However, the resources and environmental adaptation characteristics of Chalcidoidea have been little researched. In this study, we utilized geometric morphometrics and COI gene haplotype analysis and found that the morphology and genetic differentiation of Chalcidoidea changed at different altitudes. Eulophidae and Pteromalidae are parasitic wasps with a global distribution and import for the biological control of pests. They can be distributed in different altitude regions, but their morphological and genetic adaptations to different altitudes are unclear. Here, we collected specimens that belong to Eulophidae and Pteromalidae from various altitudinal gradients, based on integrated taxonomic approaches to determine the species composition, and we analyzed their body shape and size from different altitudes using geometric morphometrics. Then, we performed an analysis of the D. isaea population's haplotype genes to illustrate their genetic diversity. As a result, eight species that belong to two genera, Diglyphus Walker (Eulophidae) and Pachyneuron Walker (Pteromalidae), were identified, including two newly recorded species from China (D. chabrias and D. sabulosus). Through a geometric morphometrics analysis of body shape, we found that a narrow forewing shape and a widened thorax are the significant characteristics of adaptation to high-altitude environments in D. isaea and P. aphidis. Additionally, the body size studies showed a principal relationship between centroid size and altitude; the size of the forewings and thorax increases at higher altitudes. Next, using haplotype analysis, 32 haplotypes were found in seven geographic populations with high genetic diversity of this species. Our research provides preliminary evidence for the morphological and genetic diversity adaptation of parasitic wasps to extreme environments, and these data can provide important references for investigations on the ecological adaptability of parasitic wasps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Comparative cytogenetics of the families Pteromalidae and Spalangiidae – a review.
- Author
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Gokhman, Vladimir E.
- Subjects
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PTEROMALIDAE , *CYTOGENETICS , *CHALCID wasps , *KARYOTYPES , *CHROMOSOMES , *PYRALIDAE - Abstract
Although chromosomes of only 20 members of Pteromalidae sensu lato (s.l.), which belong to the families Pteromalidae sensu stricto (hence Pteromalidae) and Spalangiidae, are studied up to now, the accumulated cytogenetic information has important implications for taxonomic and evolutionary studies of these parasitoids. Within the former family, which includes the overwhelming majority of karyotypically studied species of Pteromalidae s.l., the known haploid chromosome number (n) can vary from 4 to 7 in Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) and Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard), respectively, with a clear mode at n = 5. Among these parasitoids, Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) is the most thoroughly studied species in terms of modern cytogenetic techniques. On the contrary, chromosomes of only two members of Spalangiidae are known, both belonging to the Spalangia endius Walker complex, with n = 4 and 6. A few cosmopolitan cryptic species of the family Pteromalidae were studied using cytogenetic approaches. Specifically, Anisopteromalus quinarius Gokhman et Baur, a newly described parasitoid of stored‐product pests with n = 5, was initially separated from A. calandrae based on its different chromosome number. Another pteromalid with a similar biology, Lariophagus distinguendus (Förster), was also found to harbor two cryptic species with n = 5 and 6. Moreover, a morphometric study of these karyotypes suggested that the largest chromosome in the set with n = 5 has resulted from a fusion of two particular chromosomes in the karyotype with n = 6, and this hypothesis was confirmed using microdissection and whole‐chromosome painting. Recent cytogenetic and bioinformatic research also showed that N. vitripennis, Nasonia longicornis Darling, Nasonia giraulti Darling, Nasonia oneida Raychouhury et Desjardins, Muscidifurax uniraptor Kogan et Legner, and Trichomalopsis sarcophagae (Gahan) (all Pteromalidae) share the TTATTGGG telomeric motif with most other Chalcidoidea. Perspectives of the chromosome study of Pteromalidae s.l. are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Extending the geographical distribution of the genus Sedma Boucek (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae, Pteromalinae) in the Palaearctic.
- Author
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RAHMANI, Zahra, MOKHTARI, Azizollah, LOTFALIZADEH, Hossein, MINAB, Farzad, GHAFOURI-MOGHADDAM, Mostafa, and RAKHSHANI, Ehsan
- Subjects
CHALCID wasps ,PTEROMALIDAE ,HYMENOPTERA ,PALEARCTIC ,SPECIES - Abstract
The monotypic genus, Sedma Bouček, 1991, represented by a single species, Sedma dispar Bouček, 1991, is recorded for the first time in the Middle East region. A concise diagnosis, along with illustrations of the relevant characters and comparison with the type specimen, are provided. Its distribution along the southern part of the Western Palearctic into the Middle East is also briefly discussed. The occurrence of other monotypic genera of Pteromalinae with similar distribution patterns in Iran is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
9. Hymenopteran parasitoids reared from European gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae).
- Author
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Bruun, Hans Henrik, Haarder, Simon, Buhl, Peter Neerup, and Askew, Richard R.
- Subjects
GALL midges ,CLASSIFICATION of insects ,SPECIES distribution ,PARASITOIDS - Abstract
We report the results of investigations 2010 through 2023 of hymenopteran parasitoids associated with gall midges in Europe. A total of 242 collections of gall midges were made, from each of which one to several parasitoid species emerged, resulting in ca. 200 recorded parasitoid species and 267 host-parasitoid interaction records. The parasitoid families involved were Eulophidae (63 species), Platygastridae (56 species), Torymidae (34 species), Pteromalidae (31 species), Ceraphronidae (5 species), Eupelmidae (4 species), Eurytomidae (2 species) and Encyrtidae (1 species). As many as 159 interactions are reported for the first time, significantly enlarging our knowledge of gall midge - parasitoid interactions on the species level. Even more interesting, 51 host records are for parasitoid species for which no host was previously known. Similarly, 28 species of gall midge are reported as host to named parasitoids for the first time. Additionally, 91 parasitoid records were the first for the country in question. Differences between the rearing methods applied and their suitability for recording species with contrasting life histories, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. A new record of genus Synedrus Graham, 1956 with description of male of Synedrus kasparyani Tselikh, 2013 from India.
- Author
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Rashid, Mubashir and Kumar, Arvind
- Subjects
MALES ,FICTIONAL characters ,PTEROMALIDAE - Abstract
The genus Synedrus Graham, 1956 is recorded from India for the first time. The male of Synedrus kasparyani Tselikh, 2013 is described. Additional characters and images of female are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. Understanding the ability of Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to find and parasitize buried Diptera pupae in southwestern Colombia.
- Author
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Manzano, Maria R., Moreno, Carlos A., Melo-Cerón, Clara, and Richard, Freddie-Jeanne
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PUPAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *PTEROMALIDAE , *DIPTERA , *ANASTREPHA , *FRUIT flies , *BRACONIDAE , *WASPS - Abstract
Pachycrepoideus vindemiae is a generalist wasp parasitoid released for biological control of the pupal stage for several species of Tephritoidea and Muscoidea flies that limit production of fruits and poultry commodities, respectively, worldwide. The parasitoid wasp must find buried host pupae to oviposit on them, and several factors may influence this outcome. The objectives of this study were to determine the capacity of first, host larvae to burrow to pupate according to substrate humidity and second, the parasitoid wasp to burrow and parasitize buried host pupae according to different conditions (substrate type, host species and parasitization time exposure). Moreover, comparison of chemical profiles between host's pupae potentially involved for host location by the parasitoid was realized by GC-FID. Peat humidity significantly affected the burrowing depth of Dasiops inedulis and Anastrepha striata and both species buried significantly deeper in peat with 50% humidity than in dry conditions. The number of emerged parasitoids is not different between the two tested host species. P. vindemiae performance was better in peat than in crop soil. In peat wasps' parasitism is similar between buried pupae located at 0 mm or 10 mm depth regardless of the time of exposure to the parasitoid. Cuticular chemical profiles showed that the four-host pupa species studied did not share compounds. However, A. striata shared some compounds with D. inedulis and, M. domestica shared some with C. capitata. Common compounds were found in the extracts of parasitized and non-parasitized pupae of C. capitata, D. inedulis and M. domestica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Optimal cold storage protocol for Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a biological control agent for coleopteran pests in stored products.
- Author
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Yang, Jia‐Peng, Zhang, Yue, Yu, Fang, Yang, Hong, Liu, Tong‐Xian, Zhang, Xiao‐Min, Hu, Da‐Ming, Wang, Yan, and Dai, Ren‐Huai
- Subjects
COLD storage ,PTEROMALIDAE ,BIOLOGICAL pest control agents ,BIOLOGICAL pest control ,HYMENOPTERA ,COLD (Temperature) ,WAREHOUSES - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) is a solitary ectoparasitoid with wide‐ranging potential applications as a natural biological control agent against various coleopterous pests in food warehouses. Implementing an effective cold storage program is crucial for extending the shelf life of biological control agents and ensuring their stable and abundant supply. Herein, we attempted to determine the optimal cold storage conditions for Anisopteromalus calandrae by investigating the effect of cold storage at three different temperatures (7, 13, and 19 °C) for 7, 21, and 35 days on four developmental stages (late‐instar larvae, early‐stage pupae, mid‐stage pupae, and 2‐day‐old adults). Additionally, we explored the maximum cold storage potential by observing early‐stage pupae stored at 13 °C for various durations (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days). RESULTS: The most suitable cold storage temperature for the early‐stage pupae of Anisopteromalus calandrae was 13 °C, and the highest adult emergence rate (98.3%) was after 90 days of storage at 13 °C. Furthermore, we did not find any significant effect on longevity (female: 44.3 days; male: 38.1 days) or fecundity (121.7 wasps). The female ratio ranged from 43.5% to 50.8%. More importantly, cold storage did not adversely affect the developmental duration or fecundity of the offspring. CONCLUSION: This study offers crucial insights for managing Anisopteromalus calandrae populations under laboratory conditions and lays the foundation for potential industrial production and development. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. A taxonomic study of four rare pteromalid genera: Amblyharma Huang & Tong, Fusta Xiao & Ye, Nazgulia Hedqvist and Platecrizotes Ferrière from the Eastern Palaearctic (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae, Pachyneurinae).
- Author
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Tselikh, Ekaterina V., Jaehyeon Lee, and Deok-Seo Ku
- Subjects
- *
PTEROMALIDAE , *PALEARCTIC , *CHALCID wasps , *SPECIES - Abstract
The four morphologically similar genera Amblyharma Huang & Tong, 1993, Fusta Xiao & Ye, 2015, Nazgulia Hedqvist, 1973 and Platecrizotes Ferrière, 1934 from the Eastern Palaearctic are reviewed. Redescriptions of genera and all available types of Eastern Palaearctic species are provided. An identification key to genera is given. A new species from South Korea, Platecrizotes jedii sp. nov. is described and illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. Potential Parasitoids for Biocontrol of the Ber Fruit Fly, Carpomya vesuviana Costa (Diptera: Tephritidae).
- Author
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Amini, Alieh, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein, Peris-Felipo, Francisco Javier, and Rasplus, Jean-Yves
- Subjects
- *
TEPHRITIDAE , *DIPTERA , *JUJUBE (Plant) , *PARASITIC wasps , *PARASITOIDS , *FRUIT flies , *ORIENTAL fruit fly - Abstract
The ber fruit fly (BFF), Carpomya vesuviana Costa, 1854 (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an important key pest of the jujube, Ziziphus jujuba Miller. The main control measures against this pest are to use chemical control, but the first survey for its natural enemies was performed in Iran. Here, we report eight species of parasitic wasps of the BFF from five different families. The family Eurytomidae with three species, the families Pteromalidae and Mutillidae with two species each, and the families Braconidae and Diapriidae with one species each are associated with different immature stages of the BFF, of which Eurytoma pineticola Zerova (Eurytomidae) and Cyrtoptyx lichtensteini (Masi) (Pteromalidae) were the most abundant parasitoid species. Fopius carpomyiae (Silvestri,) was not reared on BFF on the jujube during this survey, but it was reported on Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) with a high parasitism rate. Therefore, it seems to be the most important parasitoid of BFF in Iran. The parasitoid community of BFF in Khorasan, Eastern Iran, is reviewed, and an identification key to these species is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
15. Temperature and density dependent efficacy of Dinarmus basalis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) against Callosobruchus chinensis.
- Author
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Kundu, Juthy Rani, Alim, Md. Abdul, and Hossain, Md. Alamgir
- Subjects
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PTEROMALIDAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *DENSITY , *BRUCHIDAE , *PARASITISM , *BIOLOGICAL control of insects , *CHICKPEA - Abstract
The pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) is a serious pest of stored chickpea seed and distributed worldwide. Synthetic insecticides and fumigants are random practices against this pest but with serious drawbacks. The larval-pupal parasitoid Dinarmus basalis Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) has been successfully used to control C. chinensis as an alternative. Hosts (C. chinensis) were cultured in the laboratory in confined conditions (30 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 10% RH) till (12–15 days) to get optimal size for parasitism. The bio-control efficacy was studied at 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C with three parasitoid density pairs i.e. 2, 4 and 6. The number of emerged parasitoids, parasitism and suppression rates were studied. The parasitism and suppression rate of the parasitoid increased with increasing temperature and parasitoid densities except 35 °C. The highest parasitism (98.55%) and suppression (98.43%) by D. basalis on C. chinensis populations were observed at 30 °C with six pairs of the released parasitoids. Conversely, the lowest parasitism (77.34%) and suppression (74.35%) were observed for two pair parasitoid densities at 25 °C. Therefore, 30 °C temperature and maximum D. basalis density have potential to suppress C. chinensis populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
16. New parasitoid (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) records of bark beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in pine plantations in Bulgaria
- Author
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Sevdalin Belilov, Ivaylo Todorov, Margarita Georgieva, and Georgi Georgiev
- Subjects
bark beetles ,parasitoids ,Pteromalidae ,Heydeniid ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
In 2020 and 2021, chalcidoid parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) of bark beetles in pine (Pinus spp.) plantations were studied in Bulgaria. Samples (cuttings of stems and branches) of pine trees infested by bark beetles were collected from seven plantations of Pinus sylvestris and P. nigra in Bulgaria. From each sampling plot, five cuttings were collected and placed in photoeclectors in laboratory conditions (18-22ºC). Emerged bark beetles and parasitoids were regularly gathered and fixed in ethanol.Six parasitoid species - Dinotiscus colon, Metacolus azureus, M. unifasciatus, Rhopalicus quadratus, R. tutela (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) and Heydenia pretiosa (Chalcidoidea, Heydeniidae) were reared from five bark beetle hosts (Ips acuminatus, Pityogenes bistridentatus, Pityophthorus pityographus, Tomicus piniperda and T. minor). Amongst them, three species (H. pretiosa, M. azureus and R. quadratus) are recorded as new for Bulgarian fauna.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
17. Geometric Morphometrics and Genetic Diversity Analysis of Chalcidoidea (Diglyphus and Pachyneuron) at Various Elevations
- Author
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Ouyan Xi, Shuli Zhang, Jinzhe Li, Hongying Hu, and Ming Bai
- Subjects
Eulophidae ,Pteromalidae ,COI barcoding ,wing shape ,haplotype ,Science - Abstract
Eulophidae and Pteromalidae are parasitic wasps with a global distribution and import for the biological control of pests. They can be distributed in different altitude regions, but their morphological and genetic adaptations to different altitudes are unclear. Here, we collected specimens that belong to Eulophidae and Pteromalidae from various altitudinal gradients, based on integrated taxonomic approaches to determine the species composition, and we analyzed their body shape and size from different altitudes using geometric morphometrics. Then, we performed an analysis of the D. isaea population’s haplotype genes to illustrate their genetic diversity. As a result, eight species that belong to two genera, Diglyphus Walker (Eulophidae) and Pachyneuron Walker (Pteromalidae), were identified, including two newly recorded species from China (D. chabrias and D. sabulosus). Through a geometric morphometrics analysis of body shape, we found that a narrow forewing shape and a widened thorax are the significant characteristics of adaptation to high-altitude environments in D. isaea and P. aphidis. Additionally, the body size studies showed a principal relationship between centroid size and altitude; the size of the forewings and thorax increases at higher altitudes. Next, using haplotype analysis, 32 haplotypes were found in seven geographic populations with high genetic diversity of this species. Our research provides preliminary evidence for the morphological and genetic diversity adaptation of parasitic wasps to extreme environments, and these data can provide important references for investigations on the ecological adaptability of parasitic wasps.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
18. Online citizen sciences reveal natural enemies and new occurrence data of Meteorus stellatus Fujie, Shimizu & Maeto, 2021 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae)
- Author
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Shimizu, So, Chen, Hsuan-Pu, Lin, Kai-Ti, Chen, Ren-Jye, Fujie, Shunpei, Hung, Su-Chuan, Lo, Mei-Ling, Tsai, Ke-Hsiung, Maeto, Kaoru, and Pensoft Publishers
- Subjects
Facebook ,Ichneumonidae ,Lepidoptera ,parasitoid wasp ,predator ,Pteromalidae ,social media ,Sphingidae ,Trichogrammatidae ,Vespidae - Published
- 2023
19. Terebra steering in chalcidoid wasps
- Author
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Benjamin Eggs, Stefan Fischer, Michael Csader, István Mikó, Alexander Rack, and Oliver Betz
- Subjects
Chalcidoidea ,Functional morphology ,Hymenoptera ,Ovipositor ,Parasitoid ,Pteromalidae ,Zoology ,QL1-991 - Abstract
Abstract Various chalcidoid wasps can actively steer their terebra (= ovipositor shaft) in diverse directions, despite the lack of terebral intrinsic musculature. To investigate the mechanisms of these bending and rotational movements, we combined microscopical and microtomographical techniques, together with videography, to analyse the musculoskeletal ovipositor system of the ectoparasitoid pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus (Förster, 1841) and the employment of its terebra during oviposition. The ovipositor consists of three pairs of valvulae, two pairs of valvifers and the female T9 (9th abdominal tergum). The paired 1st and the 2nd valvulae are interlocked via the olistheter system, which allows the three parts to slide longitudinally relative to each other, and form the terebra. The various ovipositor movements are actuated by a set of nine paired muscles, three of which (i.e. 1st valvifer-genital membrane muscle, ventral 2nd valvifer-venom gland reservoir muscle, T9-genital membrane muscle) are described here for the first time in chalcidoids. The anterior and posterior 2nd valvifer-2nd valvula muscles are adapted in function. (1) In the active probing position, they enable the wasps to pull the base of each of the longitudinally split and asymmetrically overlapping halves of the 2nd valvula that are fused at the apex dorsally, thus enabling lateral bending of the terebra. Concurrently, the 1st valvulae can be pro- and retracted regardless of this bending. (2) These muscles can also rotate the 2nd valvula and therefore the whole terebra at the basal articulation, allowing bending in various directions. The position of the terebra is anchored at the puncture site in hard substrates (in which drilling is extremely energy- and time-consuming). A freely steerable terebra increases the chance of contacting a potential host within a concealed cavity. The evolution of the ability actively to steer the terebra can be considered a key innovation that has putatively contributed to the acquisition of new hosts to a parasitoid’s host range. Such shifts in host exploitation, each followed by rapid radiations, have probably aided the evolutionary success of Chalcidoidea (with more than 500,000 species estimated).
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. New data on the pteromalid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) of the fauna of Turkey
- Author
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E.V. Tselikh and L. Gençer
- Subjects
chalcidoidea ,pteromalidae ,parasitoids ,new records ,annotated list ,turkey ,Zoology ,QL1-991 - Abstract
The сhalcid wasps from the family Pteromalidae (Chalcidoidea) were studied in three Turkish provinces: Nevşehir, Muğla and Antalya. In total, 28 species from 18 genera were collected. The subfamily Trigonoderinae (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae), four genera (Plutothrix Förster, 1856, Stenoselma Delucchi, 1956, Trigonoderus Westwood, 1832, and Trychnosoma Graham, 1957) and 11 species are recorded for Turkey for the first time: Anisopteromalus apiovorus Rasplus, 1988, A. quinarius Gokhman et Baur, 2014, Cyrtoptyx gallicola Dzhanokmen, 1976, Homoporus gibbiscuta (Thomson, 1878), H. nypsius (Walker, 1839), Plutothrix coelius (Walker, 1839), Pteromalus speculifer Graham, 1981, P. temporalis (Graham, 1969), Stenoselma nigrum Delucchi, 1956, Trigonoderus cyanescens (Förster, 1841), and Trychnosoma punctipleura (Thomson, 1878). According to our study and previously published data the pteromalid fauna of Turkey comprises currently 176 species belonging to 59 genera of five subfamilies.
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- 2023
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21. Field effects of oxygenated monoterpenes and estragole combined with pheromone on attraction of Ips typographus and its natural enemies
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Antonioni Acacio Campos Moliterno, Rastislav Jakuš, Roman Modlinger, C. Rikard Unelius, Fredrik Schlyter, and Anna Jirošová
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Eurasian spruce bark beetle ,host compounds ,Pteromalidae ,Staphylinidae ,Norway spruce ,Picea abies ,Forestry ,SD1-669.5 ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
IntroductionCentral European Norway spruce monocultures face Ips typographus outbreaks due to decreasing resistance. These beetles use volatile compounds to communicate and select suitable host trees. Spruce trees, beetles, and their symbiotic ophiostomatoid fungi emit oxygenated monoterpenes, including 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol, camphor, carvone, terpinen-4-ol, isopinocamphone, and pinocamphone, and the phenylpropanoid estragole, particularly in the infestation phase. These compounds trigger strong responses in I. typographus antennae, motivating our field study.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess how adding these compounds to the aggregation pheromone of Ips typographus modulates the attraction of this bark beetle and its natural enemies.MethodsIn combination with I. typographus pheromone, estragole, 1,8-cineole, (±)-camphor, (–)-carvone, alpha-terpineol, (–)-terpinen-4-ol, (+)-pinocamphone, and (+)-isopinocamphone at low, medium, and high doses were tested in pheromone traps at two sites in the Czech Republic.ResultsAll 1,8-cineole doses and the high estragole dose acted as anti-attractants for I. typographus, whereas all (+)-isopinocamphone doses enhanced their attraction to pheromone. Catches of natural enemies, the Staphylinidae and Pteromalidae, varied by location.Conclusion1,8-cineole, isopinocamphone, and estragole may play vital roles in tritrophic interactions among spruce trees, and I. typographus and its natural enemies, and these compounds may be developed into new or enhanced semiochemical-based pest control methods.
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- 2023
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22. Adaptive evidence of mitochondrial genes in Pteromalidae and Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).
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Kang, Ning and Hu, Hongying
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PTEROMALIDAE , *CHALCID wasps , *BIOLOGICAL evolution , *EULOPHIDAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *MITOCHONDRIAL membranes - Abstract
Pteromalidae and Eulophidae are predominant and abundant taxa within Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera: Apocrita). These taxa are found in diverse ecosystems, ranging from basin deserts (200 m) to alpine grasslands (4500 m). Mitochondria, cellular powerhouses responsible for energy production via oxidative phosphorylation, are sensitive to various environmental factors such as extreme cold, hypoxia, and intense ultraviolet radiation characteristic of alpine regions. Whether the molecular evolution of mitochondrial genes in these parasitoids corresponds to changes in the energy requirements and alpine environmental adaptations remains unknown. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of mitochondrial protein-coding genes from 11 alpine species of Pteromalidae and Eulophidae, along with 18 lowland relatives, including 16 newly sequenced species. We further examined the codon usage preferences (RSCU, ENC-GC3s, neutrality, and PR2 bias plot) in these mitochondrial protein-coding sequences and conducted positive selection analysis based on their Bayesian phylogenetic relationships, and identified positive selection sites in the ATP6, ATP8, COX1, COX3, and CYTB genes, emphasizing the crucial role of mitochondrial gene adaptive evolution in the adaptation of Pteromalidae and Eulophidae to alpine environments. The phylogenetically independent contrast (PIC) analysis results verified the ω ratio of 13 PCGs from Pteromalidae and Eulophidae increased with elevation, and results from generalized linear model confirm that ATP6, ATP8, COX3, and ND1 are closely correlated with temperature-related environmental factors. This research not only enriched the molecular data of endemic alpine species but also underscores the significance of mitochondrial genes in facilitating the adaptation of these minor parasitoids to plateau habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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23. Self‐superparasitism, oviposition order, and delay: does offspring survival explain host exploitation strategies of females under interspecific competition in a solitary parasitoid wasp?
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Mohamad, Rihab and Goubault, Marlène
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COMPETITION (Biology) , *OVIPARITY , *WASPS , *FEMALES , *PTEROMALIDAE , *SURVIVAL rate - Abstract
If the risk of larval competition is high and its consequence on offspring mortality is important, we expect female behavioural strategies favouring the survival of their offspring to be selected for. In parasitoids, hosts can be parasitized several times, in some cases by females of different species (i.e., multiparasitism). In solitary parasitoids, only one offspring can develop per host: supernumerary individuals are eliminated through larval competition. Under these conditions, mothers can lay additional eggs in/on the same host (i.e., self‐superparasitism) to increase the chances of one of their offspring winning the competition. They can also aggressively protect their offspring against competing females to prevent them from multiparasitism and ovicide. Both strategies (self‐superparasitism and host defence) are observed in females of the solitary ectoparasitoid wasp, Dinarmus basalis Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), when facing females of another solitary ectoparasitoid species, Eupelmus vuilleti (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), during host exploitation. Here, we aimed to explore whether D. basalis females' behaviours relate to their offspring survival chances during larval competition: we expect mothers to defend their hosts only during the vulnerability period of their offspring and self‐superparasitize to increase the chances of their offspring winning the larval competition. We thus measured the effect of oviposition order (D. basalis females oviposited first or second), delay between ovipositions (30–60 min or 3–4 h) and the occurrence of D. basalis females' self‐superparasitism on D. basalis offspring survival when competing with E. vuilleti juveniles. Our results showed D. basalis offspring constantly had a lower survival probability than E. vuilleti offspring. Only being laid first increased D. basalis offspring survival rate, whereas the time delay between ovipositions and self‐superparasitism did not significantly increase it further. The fact that offspring survival chances under interspecific competition may not be the main driver of maternal host protection and self‐superparasitism is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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24. New species based on the biological species concept within the complex of Lariophagus distinguendus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae), a parasitoid of household pests.
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Pollmann, Marie, Kuhn, Denise, König, Christian, Homolka, Irmela, Paschke, Sina, Reinisch, Ronja, Schmidt, Anna, Schwabe, Noa, Weber, Justus, Gottlieb, Yuval, and Steidle, Johannes Luitpold Maria
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CHALCID wasps , *PTEROMALIDAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *SPECIES , *GENETIC distance ,REPRODUCTIVE isolation - Abstract
The pteromalid parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus (Foerster) belongs to the Hymenoptera, a megadiverse insect order with high cryptic diversity. It attacks stored product pest beetles in human storage facilities. Recently, it has been shown to consist of two separate species. To further study its cryptic diversity, strains were collected to compare their relatedness using barcoding and nuclear genes. Nuclear genes identified two clusters which agree with the known two species, whereas the barcode fragment determined an additional third Clade. Total reproductive isolation (RI) according to the biological species concept (BSC) was investigated in crossing experiments within and between clusters using representative strains. Sexual isolation exists between all studied pairs, increasing from slight to strong with genetic distance. Postzygotic barriers mostly affected hybrid males, pointing to Haldane's rule. Hybrid females were only affected by unidirectional Spiroplasma‐induced cytoplasmic incompatibility and behavioural sterility, each in one specific strain combination. RI was virtually absent between strains separated by up to 2.8% COI difference, but strong or complete in three pairs from one Clade each, separated by at least 7.2%. Apparently, each of these clusters represents one separate species according to the BSC, highlighting cryptic diversity in direct vicinity to humans. In addition, these results challenge the recent 'turbo‐taxonomy' practice of using 2% COI differences to delimitate species, especially within parasitic Hymenoptera. The gradual increase in number and strength of reproductive barriers between strains with increasing genetic distance also sheds light on the emergence of barriers during the speciation process in L. distinguendus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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25. Evaluation of Pachycrepoideus vindemiae and Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) as biological control agents of Piophila casei (Diptera: Piophilidae) in ham production facilities.
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Missere, Diletta, Martini, Antonio, and Burgio, Giovanni
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- *
BIOLOGICAL pest control agents , *PTEROMALIDAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *DIPTERA , *CLOSTRIDIUM botulinum , *BRACONIDAE - Abstract
Ham products play a fundamental role in the Italian economy, and attention to the problems of this sector is essential. The products of this sector can be attacked by parasites, which can cause direct and indirect damage. Piophila casei (L.) (Diptera: Piophilidae) a cheese and meat parasite, is currently responsible for hygiene problems in ham factories. The trophic activity of this pest on the products causes serious direct damage and it is a vector of various bacteria, including Clostridium botulinum. Another risk is human ingestion of the larvae, which are resistant to gastric juices action, potentially causing intestinal myiasis. Insecticide use of any type is not allowed in aging rooms, so biological control can represent a potential alternative. In this study, we investigate quality parameters such as successful rate of parasitism (SP), degree of parasitism (DP), sex-ratio (SR), life-span (LS), and emergence rates (ER) of 2 pupal parasitoids of Diptera: Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), currently the only known pupal parasitoid of P. casei , and Muscidifurax raptor (Girault and Sanders) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Our research confirmed P. vindemiae efficacy to parasitize P. casei and reported, for the first time, M. raptor as a pupal parasitoid of this Piophilidae. ER for both parasitoids were low, thus affecting the DP and SP estimations. This could be explained by the feeding behavior of the parasitoid host. The strongly female-biased SR for P. vindemiae supported previous studies. LS results in our experiment are crucial for determining the timing of release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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26. New parasitoid (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) records of bark beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in pine plantations in Bulgaria.
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Belilov, Sevdalin, Todorov, Ivaylo, Georgieva, Margarita, and Georgiev, Georgi
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CHALCID wasps ,PARASITOIDS ,SPECIES diversity ,SPECIES distribution ,TAXONOMY - Abstract
Background: In 2020 and 2021, chalcidoid parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) of bark beetles in pine (Pinus spp.) plantations were studied in Bulgaria. Samples (cuttings of stems and branches) of pine trees infested by bark beetles were collected from seven plantations of Pinus sylvestris and P. nigra in Bulgaria. From each sampling plot, five cuttings were collected and placed in photoeclectors in laboratory conditions (18-22°C). Emerged bark beetles and parasitoids were regularly gathered and fixed in ethanol. New information: Six parasitoid species - Dinotiscus colon, Metacolus azureus, M. unifasciatus, Rhopalicus quadratus, R. tutela (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) and Heydenia pretiosa (Chalcidoidea, Heydeniidae) were reared from five bark beetle hosts (Ips acuminatus, Pityogenes bistridentatus, Pityophthorus pityographus, Tomicus piniperda and T. minor). Amongst them, three species (H. pretiosa, M. azureus and R. quadratus) are recorded as new for Bulgarian fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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27. New records of Leptopilina, Ganaspis, and Asobara species associated with Drosophila suzukii in North America, including detections of L. japonica and G. brasiliensis
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Abram, Paul, McPherson, Audrey, Kula, Robert R, Hueppelsheuser, Tracy, Thiessen, Jason, Perlman, Steve, Curtis, Caitlin, Fraser, Jessica, Tam, Jordan, Carillo, Juli, Gates, Michael William, Scheffer, Sonja Jean, Lewis, Matthew, Buffington, Matthew L., and Pensoft Publishers
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adventive establishment ,Braconidae ,classical biological control ,Drosophilidae ,Figitidae ,Pteromalidae ,spotted wing Drosophila - Published
- 2020
28. Terebra steering in chalcidoid wasps.
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Eggs, Benjamin, Fischer, Stefan, Csader, Michael, Mikó, István, Rack, Alexander, and Betz, Oliver
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WASPS , *MICROSCOPICAL technique , *CHALCID wasps , *BIOLOGICAL fitness , *NUMBERS of species , *VENOM glands - Abstract
Various chalcidoid wasps can actively steer their terebra (= ovipositor shaft) in diverse directions, despite the lack of terebral intrinsic musculature. To investigate the mechanisms of these bending and rotational movements, we combined microscopical and microtomographical techniques, together with videography, to analyse the musculoskeletal ovipositor system of the ectoparasitoid pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus (Förster, 1841) and the employment of its terebra during oviposition. The ovipositor consists of three pairs of valvulae, two pairs of valvifers and the female T9 (9th abdominal tergum). The paired 1st and the 2nd valvulae are interlocked via the olistheter system, which allows the three parts to slide longitudinally relative to each other, and form the terebra. The various ovipositor movements are actuated by a set of nine paired muscles, three of which (i.e. 1st valvifer-genital membrane muscle, ventral 2nd valvifer-venom gland reservoir muscle, T9-genital membrane muscle) are described here for the first time in chalcidoids. The anterior and posterior 2nd valvifer-2nd valvula muscles are adapted in function. (1) In the active probing position, they enable the wasps to pull the base of each of the longitudinally split and asymmetrically overlapping halves of the 2nd valvula that are fused at the apex dorsally, thus enabling lateral bending of the terebra. Concurrently, the 1st valvulae can be pro- and retracted regardless of this bending. (2) These muscles can also rotate the 2nd valvula and therefore the whole terebra at the basal articulation, allowing bending in various directions. The position of the terebra is anchored at the puncture site in hard substrates (in which drilling is extremely energy- and time-consuming). A freely steerable terebra increases the chance of contacting a potential host within a concealed cavity. The evolution of the ability actively to steer the terebra can be considered a key innovation that has putatively contributed to the acquisition of new hosts to a parasitoid's host range. Such shifts in host exploitation, each followed by rapid radiations, have probably aided the evolutionary success of Chalcidoidea (with more than 500,000 species estimated). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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29. Upper thermal limits of Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae and pteromalid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) inside fly puparia.
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Yee, Wee L
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DIPTERA ,PUPAE ,PTEROMALIDAE ,TEPHRITIDAE ,FLY control ,FRUIT flies ,HYMENOPTERA - Abstract
Determining upper thermal limits of tephritid fly pupae can have practical implications for disinfesting soils and for predicting differential impacts of global warming on flies and their parasites. Here, upper thermal limits of Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae and pteromalid wasps (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) inside puparia were determined. Puparia receiving sufficient chill to terminate pupal diapause were exposed to temperatures ramped linearly over 6 h from 21 °C to 47.8, 49.4, 51.1, 55.0, or 60.0 °C for a 0-h hold time. Flies eclosed when pupae were exposed to 47.8 °C but not to 49.4, 51.1, 55.0, or 60.0 °C nor in a separate test to 47.8 °C for 1–3 h hold times. All fly pupae in treatments where no eclosion occurred were dead based on puparial dissections. In contrast, adult wasps eclosed when puparia were exposed to 49.4 and 51.1 °C for 0 h and to 47.8 °C for 1- and 2-h hold times. Despite the greater upper thermal limits of wasps, heat delayed eclosion times of both adult flies and wasps, in 47.8 and 51.1 °C treatments, respectively. In separate tests, longevity of flies exposed as pupae to 47.3–48.6 °C was greater than of control flies, while longevity of control wasps and wasps exposed as immatures to 47.8–51.1 °C did not differ. Flies exposed as pupae to 47.2–48.6 °C produced as many eggs and puparia as control flies. Results suggest heat could be used to disinfest soils of puparia while sparing parasitoids. In addition, extreme heat waves due to global warming might be more detrimental to fly pupae than immature wasps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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30. Trophic Interactions of Ceutorhynchinae spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with Their Host Plants (Brassicaceae) and Their Parasitoids in the Agroecosystem of Quebec, Canada.
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Desroches, Claudine, Moisan-De Serres, Joseph, Rodrigue, Émilien, Labrie, Geneviève, and Lucas, Éric
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- *
HOST plants , *BRASSICACEAE , *BEETLES , *CURCULIONIDAE , *CANOLA , *WEEDS , *SOLAR power plants , *GREENHOUSES ,HOSTS of parasitoids - Abstract
Simple Summary: The genus Ceutorhynchus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is composed of canola pests, natural enemies of Brassicaceae, and other species associated with non-crop and non-weed plants. This study aimed to establish trophic associations of Ceutorhynchus with their host plants and with their parasitoids in the agricultural landscape, in order to assess the actual beneficial or noxious ecological roles of the insects. Trophic associations were established by identifying Ceutorhynchus species and their parasitoids emerging from collected Brassicaceae plants in areas adjacent to canola fields and other crops in 2019 and 2020. Two functional groups were distinguished: natural enemies of weeds and agricultural pests, and new trophic associations were described. The genus Ceutorhynchus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is composed of canola pests, natural enemies of Brassicaceae, and other species associated with non-crop and non-weed plants. This study aimed to establish trophic associations of Ceutorhynchus with their host plants and with their parasitoids in the agricultural landscape, in order to assess the actual beneficial or noxious ecological roles of the insects. Trophic associations were established by identifying Ceutorhynchus species and their parasitoids emerging from collected Brassicaceae plants in areas adjacent to canola fields and other crops in 2019 and 2020. Five Ceutorhynchus species were collected and identified as hosts of parasitoids in the families Pteromalidae and Eulophidae. Two functional groups were characterized: natural enemies of weeds and agricultural pests. The exotic wormseed wallflower, Erysimum cheiranthoides was identified as a new host plant of the invasive canola pest Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), and the native tower rockcress, Arabis glabra, as a new host plant of the native Ceutorhynchus neglectus Blatchley. Association between the exotic Ceutorhynchus typhae (Herbst) and a parasitoid of the genus Elachertodomyia is reported for the first time. Finally, Ceutorhynchus neglectus and C. typhae hosted the exotic parasitoid Trichomalus perfectus, an important natural enemy of C. obstrictus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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31. Novel Gene Rearrangement Pattern in Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae Mitochondrial Genome: New Gene Order in Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).
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Huang, Yixin, Yang, Yuanhan, Qi, Liqing, Hu, Haoyuan, Rasplus, Jean-Yves, and Wang, Xu
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- *
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA , *GENE rearrangement , *PTEROMALIDAE , *CHALCID wasps , *TRANSFER RNA , *HYMENOPTERA , *GENOMES , *BRACONIDAE , *MOLECULAR phylogeny - Abstract
Simple Summary: The mitochondrial genome is a reliable genetic marker for reconstructing phylogeny and Pteromalidae is a diverse and complex family of chalcid wasps, but its evolutionary history is still poorly understood. In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of four species (Muscidifurax similadanacus, M. sinesensilla, Nasonia vitripennis, and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae) of Pteromalidae. Additionally, a phylogenetic hypothesis was reconstructed for the subfamilies of Pteromalidae that includes newly acquired mitogenomes and those deposited in NCBI. We used pairwise breakpoint distances to infer this phylogeny. Our study enriches the overall knowledge on gene rearrangement in Pteromalidae, reveals the evolutionary relationships among several major groups of Pteromalidae, accumulates molecular data for a Pteromalidae phylogeny, and provides a genetic background basis for biological control in agriculture and forestry. The mitochondrial genomes of Muscidifurax similadanacus, M. sinesensilla, Nasonia vitripennis, and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae were sequenced to better understand the structural evolution of Pteromalidae mitogenomes. These newly sequenced mitogenomes all contained 37 genes. Nucleotide composition was AT-biased and the majority of the protein-coding genes exhibited a negative AT skew. All 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) initiated with the standard start codon of ATN, excepted for nad1 of N. vitripennis, which started with TTG, and terminated with a typical stop codon TAA/TAG or an incomplete stop codon T. All transfer RNA (tRNA) genes were predicted to fold into the typical clover-leaf secondary structures, except for trnS1, which lacks the DHU arm in all species. In P. vindemmiae, trnR and trnQ lack the DHU arm and TΨC arm, respectively. Although most genes evolved under a strong purifying selection, the Ka/Ks value of the atp8 gene of P. vindemmiae was greater than 1, indicating putative positive selection. A novel transposition of trnR in P. vindemmiae was revealed, which was the first of this kind to be reported in Pteromalidae. Two kinds of datasets (PCG12 and AA) and two inference methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) were used to reconstruct a phylogenetic hypothesis for the newly sequenced mitogenomes of Pteromalidae and those deposited in GenBank. The topologies obtained recovered the monophyly of the three subfamilies included. Pachyneurinae and Pteromalinae were recovered as sister families, and both appeared sister to Sycophaginae. The pairwise breakpoint distances of mitogenome rearrangements were estimated to infer phylogeny among pteromalid species. The topology obtained was not totally congruent with those reconstructed using the ML and BI methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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32. First record and DNA barcoding of the fig gall wasp Josephiella microcarpae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) in Greece.
- Author
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Kalaentzis, Konstantinos, Koutsoukos, Evangelos, Demetriou, Jakovos, Kazilas, Christos, Avtzis, Dimitrios N., and Georgiadis, Christos
- Subjects
GALL wasps ,GENETIC barcoding ,CHALCID wasps ,PTEROMALIDAE ,FIG ,HYMENOPTERA - Abstract
The Chinese banyan, Ficus microcarpa is an ornamental fig tree, widely planted throughout Southern Greece. Native to Asian - Australasian regions, it can be found in plazas, parks, roadsides as well as private gardens. Along with its host, various insect species have managed to follow and establish themselves outside of their native range. In Rhodes, the mass defoliation of an emblematic fig tree, led to the subsequent finding of Josephiella microcarpae infestation. Repetitive samplings in the following years confirmed the establishment of the species on the island, which constitutes the first record of this species in Greece. Collected specimens from Rhodes and Cyprus were sequenced for the COI DNA barcoding region. Further investigation of fig trees throughout various locations in Southern Greece, proved fruitless. Based on our findings, the distribution of J. microcarpae in Greece seems restricted in the city of Rhodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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33. A rather unfruitful relationship? Fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the alien invasive Ficus microcarpa in Cyprus.
- Author
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Demetriou, Jakovos, Koutsoukos, Evangelos, Mavrovounioti, Nicole, Radea, Canella, Arianoutsou, Margarita, Roy, Helen E., Compton, Stephen G., and Martinou, Angeliki F.
- Subjects
CHALCID wasps ,WASPS ,FIG ,BIOLOGICAL evolution ,URBAN plants ,PLANT ecology - Abstract
The Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa) is an Australasian fig tree commonly planted in urban and semi-urban sites throughout the warmer parts of the world. Assisted by its host-specific mutualist pollinator Eupristina verticillata (Agaonidae), F. microcarpa often manages to colonise urban areas outside its native range and can invade natural habitats. In Cyprus, the species is widely planted in city centres, town squares and parks, where seedlings have been observed. Increasing numbers of fig wasp species of Asian origin are being recorded from the Mediterranean and it appears that the pace of colonisation of F. microcarpa is increasing. Fig surveys in Cyprus during the last seven years have uncovered a total of 11 fig wasp species associated with F. microcarpa. The composition of the fig wasp fauna is described here. It includes two species previously unknown from the Western Palearctic: Sycophila petiolata Chen (Eurytomidae) and an undescribed species of uncertain generic affinity (Pteromalidae, Epichrysomallinae) that we refer to as "Eufroggattisca sp. indesc.". The distribution, ecology and relationships of the Cypriot fig wasps associated with the Chinese banyan are discussed, together with their potential impacts on the spread of their host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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34. Resident Hymenopteran Parasitoids with Potential Drosophilid Associations in Andean North Patagonia: Implications for the Biological Control of the Spotted Wing Drosophila
- Author
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Fischbein, Deborah, Kun, Marcelo Eduardo, Chillo, Verónica, Masciocchi, Maité, Germano, Mónica Daniela, Cardozo, Andrea, and Martínez, Andrés Santiago
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. واکنش تابعی زنبور Anisopteromalus calandrae، پارازیتوئید سوسک چهارنقطه ای حبوبات Callosobruchus maculatus: تاثیر گیاه میزبان و پیچیدگی لکه
- Author
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معصومه موسوی, نوشین زندی سوهانی, and علی رجب پور
- Subjects
کلمات کلیدی: نرخ جستجو ,زمان دستیابی ,سوسک چهارنقطهای حبوبات ,pteromalidae ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 ,Plant ecology ,QK900-989 - Abstract
چکیدهواکنش تابعی زنبور پارازیتوئیدAnisopteromalus calandrae که لاروهای سن چهارم سوسک چهارنقطه ای حبوبات Callosobruchus maculatus را پارازیته می کند، روی میزبان های گیاهی مختلف و لکه های با پیچیدگی متفاوت در شرایط آزمایشگاهی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. در آزمایش اول، اثر دو میزبان گیاهی مختلف شامل لوبیا چشم بلبلی Vigna unguiculata و نخود Cicer arietinum روی واکنش تابعی زنبور پارازیتوئید بررسی شد. در آزمایش دوم، تاثیر پیچیدگی لکه بر واکنش تابعی زنبور با استفاده از لوبیا چشم بلبلی به عنوان میزبان گیاهی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. براساس نتایج رگرسیون لجستیک، واکنش تابعی زنبور پارازیتوئید A. calandrae روی لارو سن چهارم سوسک چهارنقطه ای حبوبات، در آزمایش های انجام شده روی هر دو میزبان لوبیا چشم بلبلی و نخود و همچنین در لکه ای پیچیده میزبان از نوع دوم بود. نرخ جستجوگری پارازیتوئید در تیمار لوبیا چشم بلبلی و نخود به ترتیب 0488/0 و 0378/0 بر ساعت و زمان دستیابی در این تیمارها به ترتیب 0962/2 و 1804/2 ساعت محاسبه شد. نرخ جستجوگری زنبور پارازیتوئید A. calandrae در لکه پیچیده با استفاده از دانه لوبیا چشم بلبلی به عنوان میزبان گیاهی، (0269/0 برساعت) در مقایسه با لکه ساده (0488/0 برساعت) کاهش یافت، هرچند این اختلاف معنی دار نبود. این نتایج می تواند اطلاعات مفیدی جهت کنترل بیولوژیکی سوسک چهارنقطه ای حبوبات در سیلوها و مکانهای بسته در اختیار محققین قرار دهد.
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- 2022
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36. Biological parameters of Muscidifurax raptorellus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae), the key pest of olives.
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Sánchez-Ramos, Ismael and González-Núñez, Manuel
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OLIVE fly , *TEPHRITIDAE , *DIPTERA , *PTEROMALIDAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *AGRICULTURAL pests - Abstract
The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, is one of the main pests of this crop and its control requires the development of methods environmentally safer than those used mostly nowadays, being biological control a possible alternative. Accordingly, the capacity of parasitisation and the biological parameters of Muscidifurax raptorellus, a generalist parasitoid of dipteran pupae, were evaluated on B. oleae at 25°C, 80% RH and a 16:08 h light/dark photoperiod. In a development assay, the rates of parasitism ranged 60% to 72% and the duration of the preimaginal period was between 17.0 and 18.5 days. The total mean number of adult wasps produced per pair in a reproduction assay was 50.7, with a mean daily production of 7 individuals and a mean rate of parasitism of 32.6%. The moment of maximum offspring production was estimated at 2.6 days after the beginning of the oviposition. The intrinsic rate of natural increase of M. raptorellus on B. oleae was 0.147, what determines a population doubling time of 4.7 days. The functional response was type II and the maximum attack rate in 24 h was 19.6 pupae. At host densities ranging 20–80 pupae per female, the number of adult wasps produced was around 20–22. The results obtained show the potential of M. raptorellus to be used for the biological control of B. oleae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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37. Intrinsic competition between 2 pupal parasitoids of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae).
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Garcez, Amanda Montandon, Krüger, Alexandra Peter, and Nava, Dori Edson
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DROSOPHILA suzukii , *DIPTERA , *DROSOPHILIDAE , *PARASITOIDS , *HYMENOPTERA , *PUPAE , *PTEROMALIDAE - Abstract
The parasitoids Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Trichopria anastrephae Costa Lima (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) have great potential in controlling Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura); however, both, compete for the same resources. In this study, we evaluated whether the different stages of development of the primary parasitoid reduce the negative effect of intrinsic competition. For this, we first defined the duration of each immature stage of both parasitoid species and then offered D. suzukii pupae containing the first parasitoid (P. vindemmiae or T. anastrephae) at different stages of development to the second parasitoid (P. vindemmiae or T. anastrephae). We also checked the second parasitoid's preference (P. vindemmiae or T. anastrephae) for the primary parasitoid at different stages of development (P. vindemmiae or T. anastrephae) or D. suzukii pupae nonparasitized. Our evaluations showed that T. anastrephae preferred to parasitize pupae that were not previously parasitized and that had not parasitized puparia of D. suzukii when P. vindemmiae was in later stage to the 1st instar. However, P. vindemmiae preferred to parasitize pupae previously parasitized by T. anastrephae. In an environment of intrinsic competition, the first parasitoid to parasitize has an advantage, except when the pupal stage of T. anastrephae is parasitized by P. vindemmiae. The variation in the parasitoids' oviposition time mitigates the competition effect; however, for use in biological control programs, the hyperparasitoids P. vindemmiae , does not prove to be advantageous, as they can affect the establishment of primary parasitoids such as T. anastrephae , and can act as competitors for resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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38. Parasitism Features of a Fig Wasp of Genus Apocrypta (Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae) Associated with a Host Belonging to Ficus Subgenus Ficus.
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Chou, Po-An, Bain, Anthony, Chantarasuwan, Bhanumas, and Tzeng, Hsy-Yu
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FICUS (Plants) , *PTEROMALIDAE , *FIG , *SPECIES specificity , *HABITATS , *COMMUNITIES , *MOLECULAR phylogeny , *PARASITISM - Abstract
Simple Summary: Non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs) in the genus Apocrypta mostly interact with fig species belonging to the subgenus Sycomorus. However, an instance of the Apocrypta species associated with Ficus pedunculosa var. mearnsii in the subgenus Ficus was observed. To better understand its parasitism features, we inferred its life history with the fig growth and estimated the parasitism ability using a quantitative and qualitative approach that compared the ovipositor sheath-length ratio to the fig gall+wall thickness among the species in Apocrypta. Our results showed that this wasp exhibited a high parasitism ability, more advantageous than that of other congeneric species. In contrast, its parasitism rate was low, suggesting that other ecological factors like oviposition strategy and the severe habitat could affect its efficiency. These findings may provide a reference for the symbiosis between fig trees and fig wasps. Non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs), particularly long-ovipositored Sycoryctina wasps, exhibit a high species specificity and exert complex ecological effects on the obligate mutualism between the plant genus Ficus and pollinating fig wasps. Apocrypta is a genus of NPFWs that mostly interacts with the Ficus species under the subgenus Sycomorus, and the symbiosis case between Apocrypta and F. pedunculosa var. mearnsii, a Ficus species under subgenus Ficus, is unique. As fig's internal environments and the wasp communities are distinct between the two subgenera, we addressed the following two questions: (1) Are the parasitism features of the Apocrypta wasp associated with F. pedunculosa var. mearnsii different from those of other congeneric species? (2) Is this Apocrypta species an efficient wasp that lives in its unique host? Our observation revealed that this wasp is an endoparasitic idiobiont parasitoid, as most congeneric species are, but developed a relatively long ovipositor. Furthermore, the relationships of the parasitism rate versus the pollinator number, the fig wall, and the sex ratio of the pollinator, respectively, showed that it possessed a higher parasitism ability than that of other congeners. However, its parasitism rate was low, and thus it was not an efficient wasp in its habitat. This difference between parasitism ability and parasitism rate might be a consequence of its oviposition strategy and the severe habitat conditions. These findings may also provide insights into the mechanism to maintain the interaction between the fig tree and the fig wasp community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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39. Evolutionary timescale of chalcidoid wasps inferred from over one hundred mitochondrial genomes.
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Jia-Chen Zhu, Hui Xiao, Pu Tang, Xiao-Fei Li, Xuan-Kun Li, Chao-Dong Zhu, Qiong Wu, Jin-Hua Xiao, van Achterberg, Cornelis, Da-Wei Huang, and Xue-Xin Chen
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MITOCHONDRIAL DNA ,CHALCID wasps ,WASPS ,MITOCHONDRIA ,PTEROMALIDAE ,GENOMES - Abstract
Chalcidoidea is one of the most biologically diverse groups among Hymenoptera. Members are characterized by extraordinary parasitic lifestyles and extensive host ranges, among which several species attack plants or serve as pollinators. However, higher-level chalcidoid relationships remain controversial. Here, we performed mitochondrial phylogenomic analyses for major clades (18 out of 25 families) of Chalcidoidea based on 139 mitochondrial genomes. The compositional heterogeneity and conflicting backbone relationships in Chalcidoidea were assessed using various datasets and tree inferences. Our phylogenetic results supported the monophyly of 16 families and polyphyly of Aphelinidae and Pteromalidae. Our preferred topology recovered the relationship (Mymaridae+(Signiphoridae+Leucospidae)+(Chalcididae+ ((Perilampidae+Eucharitidae)+ remaining Chalcidoidea)))). The monophyly of Agaonidae and Sycophaginae was rejected, while the gall-associated ((Megastigmidae+ Ormyridae)+(Ormocerinae+Eurytomidae)) relationship was supported in most results. A six-gene inversion may be a synapomorphy for most families, whereas other derived gene orders may introduce confusion in phylogenetic signals at deeper nodes. Dating estimates suggested that Chalcidoidea arose near the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary and that two dynamic shifts in diversification occurred during the evolution of Chalcidoidea. We hypothesized that the potential codiversification between chalcidoids and their hosts may be crucial for accelerating the diversification of Chalcidoidea. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses supported the hypothesis that gallinducers were mainly derived from parasitoids of gallinducers, while other gall-inducers were derived from phytophagous groups. Taken together, these findings advance our understanding of mitochondrial genome evolution in the major interfamilial phylogeny of Chalcidoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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40. New insights into the genome and transmission of the microsporidian pathogen Nosema muscidifuracis.
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Xiao Xiong, Geden, Christopher J., Bergstralh, Dan T., White, Roxie L., Werren, John H., and Xu Wang
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GENE rearrangement ,CHROMOSOME duplication ,INSECT parasites ,PTEROMALIDAE ,BIRDS of prey ,OVUM ,GENOMES - Abstract
Introduction: Nosema is a diverse genus of unicellular microsporidian parasites of insects and other arthropods. Nosema muscidifuracis infects parasitoid wasp species of Muscidifurax zaraptor and M. raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), causing ~50% reduction in longevity and ~90% reduction in fecundity. Methods and Results: Here, we report the first assembly of the N. muscidifuracis genome (14,397,169bp in 28 contigs) of high continuity (contig N50 544.3 Kb) and completeness (BUSCO score 97.0%). A total of 2,782 protein-coding genes were annotated, with 66.2% of the genes having two copies and 24.0% of genes having three copies. These duplicated genes are highly similar, with a sequence identity of 99.3%. The complex pattern suggests extensive gene duplications and rearrangements across the genome. We annotated 57 rDNA loci, which are highly GC-rich (37%) in a GC-poor genome (25% genome average). Nosema-specific qPCR primer sets were designed based on 18S rDNA annotation as a diagnostic tool to determine its titer in host samples. We discovered high Nosema titers in Nosemacured M. raptor and M. zaraptor using heat treatment in 2017 and 2019, suggesting that the remedy did not completely eliminate the Nosema infection. Cytogenetic analyses revealed heavy infections of N. muscidifuracis within the ovaries of M. raptor and M. zaraptor, consistent with the titer determined by qPCR and suggesting a heritable component of infection and per ovum vertical transmission. Discussion: The parasitoids-Nosema system is laboratory tractable and, therefore, can serve as a model to inform future genome manipulations of Nosema-host system for investigations of Nosemosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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41. Efficacy of the parasitic wasp, Dinarmus basalis Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in reducing infestations by the cowpea beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae).
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Akinbuluma, Mobolade D. and Chinaka, Onyekachi P.
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COWPEA weevil , *COWPEA , *PARASITIC wasps , *BEETLES , *CHRYSOMELIDAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *PTEROMALIDAE , *BIOLOGICAL assay - Abstract
Background: Cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), is the most important pest of stored cowpea in tropical regions. This study was designed to determine the presence of parasitoids associated with C. maculatus, investigate the efficacy of the parasitic wasp, Dinarmus basalis Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in controlling C. maculatus as influenced by time and number of applications and ascertain the use of olfactory cues by D. basalis in host searching. Three markets in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria, namely: Bodija, Mapo and Ojoo, were purposively surveyed for parasitoids associated with C. maculatus. Two pairs of D. basalis were released at 3-day intervals into cowpea seeds previously infested with C. maculatus. Treatments included: four times of parasitoid applications (4-TPA), three applications (3-TPA), two applications (2-TPA), 1 application (1-TPA) and a control without parasitoid application (0-TPA). All treatments were replicated four times in a completely randomized design to determine F1 progeny of C. maculatus and seed damage. Olfactory bioassay was carried out with D. basalis adults placed in a Y-tube olfactometer; and their preference for infested or uninfested three cowpea varieties, namely: Ife Brown, Ife BPC (Branching Peduncle) and Oloyin, as well as infested cowpea grains or pure air was evaluated. Results: Among the previously known parasitoids associated with C. maculatus, only D. basalis was found in the sampled markets. F1 progeny of adult C. maculatus reduced from 4.75 individuals (0-TPA) to 1.25 (2-TPA), 0.25 (3-TPA) and 0 (4-TPA). Concurrently, the number of exit holes on cowpea seeds significantly (p < 0.05) ranged from 5.25 (0-TPA) > 3.21 (1-TPA) > 2.20 (2-TPA) > 2.18 (4-RAP) > 1.39 (3-TPA). Adults D. basalis were more attracted to infested grains of Ife Brown (χ2 = 4, df = 1, p = 0.0455) and infested grains of Ife BPC (χ2 = 4, df = 1, p = 0.0455) than clean air. Similarly, adults D. basalis were more attracted to infested Ife Brown than the uninfested (χ2 = 5, df = 1, p = 0.0254). The results further showed that there were non-significant differences between the infested and uninfested grains of Ife BPC (χ2 = 0.2, df = 1, p = 0.6547) and Oloyin (χ2 = 3.2, df = 1, p = 0.0736) varieties. Conclusions: Adult D. basalis reduced emergence of C maculatus and reduced damage in cowpea seeds. Olfactory cues played a necessary role in host-searching efforts of D. basalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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42. Landscape Effects on the Cabbage Seedpod Weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and on Its Parasitoid, Trichomalus perfectus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), in Canola.
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D'Ottavio, Marie, Boquel, Sébastien, Labrie, Geneviève, and Lucas, Eric
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CANOLA , *PTEROMALIDAE , *CABBAGE , *CURCULIONIDAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *HAY , *BIOLOGICAL control of insects , *EARTHWORMS , *BRACONIDAE - Abstract
Simple Summary: The exotic cabbage seedpod weevil (CSW), Ceutorhynchus obstrictus, is a major pest of canola crops. This insect is mainly regulated in Europe by the parasitoid Trichomalus perfectus, a natural enemy also accidentally introduced in eastern Canada since 2009. The objective of the present study was to evaluate how the landscape influenced the CSW infestation and abundance and the parasitism of T. perfectus. Results from six years in eight Quebec regions show that the CSW was positively affected by roads and cereal crops. Regarding T. perfectus, the parasitism was variable (from about 5 to almost 25%) and positively influenced by landscape diversity, crop edge density, hay/pastures and soybean crops. These results will help determine the potential of an eventual introduction of T. perfectus in western Canada, where most of the canola is produced, and the optimal landscape composition and configuration needed to succeed. The cabbage seedpod weevil (CSW), Ceutorhynchus obstrictus, an exotic pest accidentally introduced in North America in 1931, spread all over this continent and is now a major pest of canola crops. One of its main natural enemies in Europe, Trichomalus perfectus, was observed in eastern Canada in 2009. This study aimed to evaluate the landscape influence on CSW infestation and abundance and on T. perfectus parasitism in Quebec to understand the optimal conditions to potentially release this parasitoid in the Canadian Prairies. Field research was conducted in 19 to 28 canola fields per year, from 2015 to 2020, among eight Quebec regions. CSW was sampled by sweep net during canola blooming and parasitoids by collecting canola pods kept in emergence boxes until adults emerge. Infestation and parasitism calculations were based on pod emergence holes. For analysis, 20 landscape predictors were considered. Results show that CSW infestation and abundance increased if there were more roads and cereal crops in the landscapes. Meanwhile, T. perfectus parasitism decreased when hedgerows length and distance from water were longer. However, it increased when landscape diversity and average crop perimeter-to-area ratio were higher, and along with more hay/pastures and soybean crops. This study's results highlight that these four landscape predictors could provide more resources and overwintering areas, promoting greater efficiency of T. perfectus to control the CSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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43. New San Francisco Bay Area spittlebug of the genus Clastoptera Germar, 1839 (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Clastopteridae) makes unique mineral-crusted spittles.
- Author
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THOMPSON, VINTON
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AUTUMN , *CHALCID wasps , *HEMIPTERA , *STUNTED growth , *SUMMER , *PTEROMALIDAE , *BROOD parasitism , *PUPAE - Abstract
Clastoptera mineralis sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Clastopteridae) lives on cypresses (Hesperocyparis spp.) (Cupressaceae) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of its post-first-instar nymphs form and live within mineral-crusted spittle masses until adult emergence. No comparable phenomenon has been documented in New World spittlebugs, but mineral coverings have been observed in the Old World spittlebug groups Machaerotidae, which make mineralized nymphal tubes, and Tremapterus Spinola, 1850, which make spittles with mineral casings. In contrast to the more permanent and organized structures of the Old World species, the remains of C. mineralis crust disappear after late fall rains and may depend on the intense California summer dry season for their initial persistence. They might represent an early stage in the evolution of nymphal mineral coverings. Some C. mineralis nymphs are associated with spittle-inhabiting larvae of the fly Cladochaeta sturtevanti Wheeler & Takada, 1971 (Diptera: Drosophilidae), which apparently stunts their growth. Some C. sturtevanti pupae are attacked in turn by a chalcid wasp parasitoid of the genus Pachyneuron Walker, 1833 (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae). Both parasitized and unparasitized fly puparia were found associated with C. mineralis mineral crusts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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44. Online citizen sciences reveal natural enemies and new occurrence data of Meteorus stellatus Fujie, Shimizu & Maeto, 2021 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae).
- Author
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So Shimizu, Hsuan-Pu Chen, Kai-Ti Lin, Ren-Jye Chen, Shunpei Fujie, Su-Chuan Hung, Mei-Ling Lo, Ke-Hsiung Tsai, and Kaoru Maeto
- Subjects
CITIZEN science ,HYMENOPTERA ,BRACONIDAE ,BIODIVERSITY ,SPECIES diversity - Abstract
Background: Citizen science is a research approach that involves collaboration between professional scientists and non-professional volunteers. The utilisation of recent online citizen-science platforms (e.g. social networking services) has greatly revolutionised the accessibility of biodiversity data by providing opportunities for connecting professional and citizen scientists worldwide. Meteorus stellatus Fujie, Shimizu & Maeto, 2021 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae) has been recorded from the Oriental Islands of Japan and known to be a gregarious endoparasitoid of two macro-sized sphingid moths of Macroglossum, Ma. passalus (Drury) and Ma. pyrrhosticta Butler. It constructs characteristic star-shaped communal cocoons, suspended by a long cable. Although M. stellatus has been reported only from the Oriental Islands of Japan, the authors recognise its occurrence and ecological data from Taiwan and the Palaearctic Island of Japan through posts on online citizen-science groups about Taiwanese Insects on Facebook and an article on a Japanese citizen-scientist's website. New information: Through collaboration between professional and citizen scientists via social media (Facebook groups) and websites, the following new biodiversity and ecological data associated with M. stellatus are provided: 1. Meteorus stellatus is recorded for the first time from Taiwan and the Palaearctic Region (Yakushima Is., Japan). 2. Cechetra minor (Butler, 1875), Hippotion celerio (Linnaeus, 1758) and Macroglossum sitiene (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) are recorded for the first time as hosts of M. stellatus and two of which (C. minor and H. celerio) represent the first genus-level host records for M. stellatus. 3. Mesochorus sp. (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), indeterminate species of Pteromalidae and Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera), are recognised as hyperparasitoid wasps of M. stellatus. 4. Parapolybia varia (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) is reported as a predator of pendulous communal cocoons of M. stellatus. The nature of suspended large-sized communal cocoons of M. stellatus and the importance and limitations of digital occurrence data and online citizen science are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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45. Effects of male age, body size and mating status on female mate preference and offspring sex ratio in Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae).
- Author
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JING LI, YU WANG, YONG-ZHUO CHEN, PENG-CHENG LIU, and HAO-YUAN HU
- Subjects
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FEMALES , *BODY size , *PTEROMALIDAE , *SEX ratio , *BIOLOGICAL pest control agents , *HYMENOPTERA - Abstract
Mate choice is one of the main components of sexual selection, with females usually considered to be the selective sex. Male status is an important factor that affects female choice and to a large extent female mating preference. Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is an important solitary ectoparasitic idiobiont parasitoid that attacks several fly species and thus can be used as a biological control agent. We explored the influence of male status on mate selection, fecundity and offspring sex ratio. The results show that (1) P. vindemmiae females prefer to mate with young and large males and tended to choose males with only one mating experience; (2) the age, body size and mating status of males did not signifi cantly affect female fecundity; and (3) the proportion of male offspring was larger when females mated with older, small and more often mated males. These results show that P. vindemmiae females prefer to mate with young and large males that had mated few times, and that mating with these males results in a higher proportion of female offspring. In addition, this study also indicates the way of rearing P. vindemmiae that produce more female offspring for use as biological control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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46. Review of the Palaearctic species of Miscogasteriella Girault, 1915 (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae).
- Author
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Tselikh, Ekaterina V., Lee, Jaehyeon, and Ku, Deok-Seo
- Subjects
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PALEARCTIC , *PTEROMALIDAE , *CHALCID wasps , *SPECIES - Abstract
Palaearctic species of the genus Miscogasteriella Girault, 1915 are reviewed. Miscogasteriella olgae sp. nov. from South Korea and M. vladimiri sp. nov. from Japan are described. Type material of M. nigricans (Masi) and M. sulcata (Kamijo) is redescribed and illustrated. Miscogasteriella nigricans is recorded from the Palaearctic region for the first time. An identification key to females of all Palaearctic species of Miscogasteriella is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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47. New findings of Cleonymidae and Ooderidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) in Iran, with description of a new species of Oodera Westwood.
- Author
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Rahmani, Zahra, Rakhshani, Ehsan, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein, and Mokhtari, Azizollah
- Subjects
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PTEROMALIDAE , *CHALCID wasps , *SPECIES , *HYMENOPTERA , *PROVINCES , *FAMILIES - Abstract
The families Cleonymidae and Ooderidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) were studied in Eastern (Sistan-o Baluchestan and North Khorasan), Central (Isfahan), South Eastern (Kerman) and Western (Kermanshah) provinces of Iran. Four genera were collected: Agrilocida Steffan; Callocleonymus Masi; Notanisus Walker (Cleonymidae); and Oodera Westwood (Ooderidae). The monotypic genus Agrilocida, represented by A. ferrierei Steffan, is a new record for Iran. Oodera punctulata Rahmani and Rakhshani sp. nov. is newly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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48. Neomegadicylus, a new genus of Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) from the Palaearctic region.
- Author
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Tselikh, Ekaterina V., Rasplus, Jean-Yves, Jaehyeon Lee, and Deok-Seo Ku
- Subjects
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PTEROMALIDAE , *CHALCID wasps , *PALEARCTIC , *SPECIES , *HYMENOPTERA , *FEMALES , *BRACONIDAE - Abstract
A new genus of Pteromalidae Neomegadicylus gen. nov., along with its type species Neomegadicylus gracileus sp. nov., is described from the Republic of Korea and Japan, and N. klarissae sp. nov., is described from the Republic of Korea. This genus can be distinguished from its putatively close relative Megadicylus Girault, 1929 by the following combination of characters -- antennal clava with large micropilosity area, F1-F6 much longer than broad; clypeus smooth and shiny; notauli deep and incomplete and anterior part of propodeum strongly sloping in lateral view. An identification key to species of Neomegadicylus is provided, based on females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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49. Occurrence of Dinarmus basalis parasitizing Callosobruchus maculatus in Vigna unguiculata in the semiarid region of the Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil
- Author
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Ewerton Marinho da Costa, Francisco Edivino Lopes da Silva, Elania Clementino Fernandes, Valmir Antonio Costa, and Elton Lucio Araujo
- Subjects
cowpea ,bruchinae ,pteromalidae ,biological control ,Agriculture (General) ,S1-972 - Abstract
Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) is the main pest of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. during the grain storage period. This study aimed to report the occurrence of a natural enemy associated with C. maculatus in cowpea, in the semiarid region of the Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. For this, cowpea samples were collected and placed in closed plastic containers, where they remained until the emergence of adult insects. From the infested samples, adults of C. maculatus and of the Dinarmus basalis (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae) parasitoid emerged. This is the first report of D. basalis parasitizing C. maculatus in the semiarid region of the Rio Grande do Norte state.
- Published
- 2023
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50. Potential Parasitoids for Biocontrol of the Ber Fruit Fly, Carpomya vesuviana Costa (Diptera: Tephritidae)
- Author
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Alieh Amini, Hossein Lotfalizadeh, Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo, and Jean-Yves Rasplus
- Subjects
parasitoids ,Eurytomidae ,Pteromalidae ,Aximopsis ,Eurytoma ,jujube ,Science - Abstract
The ber fruit fly (BFF), Carpomya vesuviana Costa, 1854 (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an important key pest of the jujube, Ziziphus jujuba Miller. The main control measures against this pest are to use chemical control, but the first survey for its natural enemies was performed in Iran. Here, we report eight species of parasitic wasps of the BFF from five different families. The family Eurytomidae with three species, the families Pteromalidae and Mutillidae with two species each, and the families Braconidae and Diapriidae with one species each are associated with different immature stages of the BFF, of which Eurytoma pineticola Zerova (Eurytomidae) and Cyrtoptyx lichtensteini (Masi) (Pteromalidae) were the most abundant parasitoid species. Fopius carpomyiae (Silvestri,) was not reared on BFF on the jujube during this survey, but it was reported on Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) with a high parasitism rate. Therefore, it seems to be the most important parasitoid of BFF in Iran. The parasitoid community of BFF in Khorasan, Eastern Iran, is reviewed, and an identification key to these species is proposed.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
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