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Host discrimination in the fruit fly parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata: evidence from virgin female behaviour and egg distribution patterns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2020

Francisco Devescovi ,
Guillermo E. Bachmann ,
Ana L. Nussenbaum ,
Mariana M. Viscarret ,
Jorge L. Cladera  and
Diego F. Segura Open the ORCID record for Diego F. Segura [Opens in a new window]
Francisco Devescovi
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Insectos de Importancia Agronómica, IGEAF (INTA), GV-IABIMO (CONICET), Dr Nicolás Repetto y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham (B1686IGC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Guillermo E. Bachmann
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Insectos de Importancia Agronómica, IGEAF (INTA), GV-IABIMO (CONICET), Dr Nicolás Repetto y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham (B1686IGC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ana L. Nussenbaum
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Insectos de Importancia Agronómica, IGEAF (INTA), GV-IABIMO (CONICET), Dr Nicolás Repetto y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham (B1686IGC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mariana M. Viscarret
Affiliation:
Insectario de Investigaciones para Lucha Biológica, IMyZA (INTA), GV-IABIMO (CONICET), Dr Nicolás Repetto y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham (B1686IGC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jorge L. Cladera
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Insectos de Importancia Agronómica, IGEAF (INTA), GV-IABIMO (CONICET), Dr Nicolás Repetto y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham (B1686IGC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Diego F. Segura*
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Insectos de Importancia Agronómica, IGEAF (INTA), GV-IABIMO (CONICET), Dr Nicolás Repetto y De los Reseros s/n, Hurlingham (B1686IGC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
*
Author for correspondence: Diego F. Segura, Email: segura.diego@inta.gob.ar
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Abstract

Many parasitoid species discriminate already parasitized hosts, thus avoiding larval competition. However, females incur in superparasitism under certain circumstances. Superparasitism is commonly observed in the artificial rearing of the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, yet host discrimination has been previously suggested in this species. Here, we addressed host discrimination in virgin D. longicaudata females in a comprehensive way by means of direct and indirect methods, using Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus which are major fruit fly pests in South America. Direct methods relied on the description of the foraging behaviour of females in arenas with parasitized and non-parasitized host larvae. In the indirect methods, healthy larvae were offered to single females and the egg distributions were compared to a random distribution. We found that D. longicaudata was able to recognize parasitized host from both host species, taking 24 h since a first parasitization for A. fraterculus and 48 h for C. capitata. Indirect methods showed females with different behaviours for both host species: complete discrimination, non-random (with superparasitism), and random distributions. A larger percentage of females reared and tested on A. fraterculus incurred in superparasitism, probably associated with higher fecundity. In sum, we found strong evidence of host discrimination in D. longicaudata, detecting behavioural variability associated with the host species, the time since the first parasitization and the fecundity of the females.

Keywords

Avoidance of superparasitismBraconidaeDipteraegg distribution patternshost choicehymenopteraparasitoid foraging behaviourTephritidae
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 111 , Issue 2 , April 2021 , pp. 229 - 237
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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