Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:15:45.066Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of the ratios of Listronotus bonariensis and Sitona discoideus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to their respective parasitoids Microctonus hyperodae and M. aethiopoides (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), on parasitism, host oviposition and feeding in the laboratory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

B.I.P. Barratt ,
A.A. Evans  and
P.D. Johnstone
B.I.P. Barratt*
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand
A.A. Evans
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand
P.D. Johnstone
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand
*
Dr. B.I.P. Barratt, AgResearch, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Private Bag 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The parasitoids Microctonus hyperodae Loan and M. aethiopoides Loan have been introduced into New Zealand to control the forage pests Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel) and Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal, respectively. Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of host–parasitoid ratio, and exposure time on host survival, parasitism, oviposition and feeding. Cages of 20 field collected weevils were exposed to 0, 1, 3 or 6 parasitoids for 0, 1, 12 or 48 hours, maintained until parasitoid pupal emergence, and surviving weevils dissected. Over the ranges studied, increasing parasite number, and to a greater extent, period of exposure of parasitoids to their hosts increased parasitism levels. Microctonus aethiopoides achieved higher levels of parasitism in S. discoideus at the lower parasitoid contact treatments than did M. hyperodae in L. bonariensis. Fecundity in unparasitized weevils was progressively reduced in both L. bonariensis and S. discoideus in relation to increasing exposure to parasitoids. Feeding was reduced by about 40% in L. bonariensis for at least four days after parasitoids were removed, and in S. discoideus for the duration of the experiment, averaging 15%. Results were discussed in relation to possible mechanisms of indirect effects of parasitoids on unparasitized hosts.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 86 , Issue 2 , April 1996 , pp. 101 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barratt, B.I.P., Ferguson, C.M. & Evans, A.A. (1995) Assessing the fate of introduced biological control agents in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Proceedings of the Asia Pacific Agri-industry Community Conference,Brisbane, Australia.Australian Institute of Agricultural Science Occasional Publication No. 89, 8 pp.Google Scholar
Goldson, S.L., Dyson, C.B., Proffitt, J.R., Frampton, E.R. & Logan, J.A. (1985) The effect of Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on lucerne yields in New Zealand. Bulletin of Entomological Research 75, 429–442.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldson, S.L., Phillips, C.B. & Farrell, J.A. (1990) A report on Microctonus hyperodae Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae; Euphorinae) as a potential biocontrol agent of the Argentine stem weevil Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in New Zealand. 19 pp. Environmental Impact Assessment: Report prepared for the Ministry for the Environment.Google Scholar
Goldson, S.L., McNeill, M.R., Proffitt, J.R., Barker, G.M., Addison, P.J., Barratt, B.I.P. & Ferguson, C.M. (1993) Systematic mass rearing and release of Microctonus hyperodae (Hym.: Braconidae, Euphorinae), a parasitoid of the Argentine stem weevil Listronotus bonariensis (Col.: Curculionidae) and records of its establishment in New Zealand. Entomophaga 38, 1–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldson, S.L., Barker, G.M., Barratt, B.I.P. & Barlow, N.D. (1994a) Progress in the biological control of Argentine stem weevil and comment on its potential. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Society Conference 56, 39–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldson, S.L., Proffitt, J.R. & Barlow, N.D. (1994b) Sitona discoideus (Gyllenhal) and its parasitoid Microctonus aethiopoides Loan: a case study in successful biological control. pp. 236–239in Corey, S., Dall, D. & Milne, W. (Eds) Pest control and sustainable agriculture. Canberra, CSIRO, Division of Entomology.Google Scholar
Horton, D.R. & Moore, J. (1993) Behavioural effects of parasites and pathogens in insect hosts. pp. 107–124in Beckage, N.E., Thompson, S.N.Frederici, B.A. (Eds) Parasites and pathogens of insects. USA, Academic Press, San Diego.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howarth, F.G. (1991) Environmental impacts of classical biological control. Annual Review of Entomology 36, 485–509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hurd, H. (1993) Reproductive disturbances induced by parasites and pathogens of insects. pp. 87–105in Beckage, N.E., Thompson, S.N., Frederici, B.A. (Eds) Parasites and pathogens of insects. USA, Academic Press, San Diego.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, G.C. & Thomas, B.J. (1991) Incidence and severity of pest and disease damage to white clover foliage at 16 sites in England and Wales. Annals of Applied Biology 118, 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loan, C. & Holdaway, F.G. (1961) Microctonus aethiops (Nees) auctt. and Perilitis rutilis (Nees) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), European parasites of Sitona weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Canadian Entomologist 93, 1057–1079.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loan, C. & Lloyd, D.C. (1974) Description and field biology of Microctonus hyperodae Loan n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Euphorinae) a parasite of Hyperodes bonariensis in South America (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Entomophaga 19, 7–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Longworth, J.F. (1987) Biological control in New Zealand: policy and procedures. New Zealand Entomologist 10, 1–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelder, J.A. & Wedderburn, R.W.M. (1972) Generalised linear models. journal of the Royal Statistical Society. A. 135, 370–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prestidge, R.A., Barker, G.M. & Pottinger, R.P. (1991) The economic cost of Argentine stem weevil in New Zealand. Proceedings of the 44th New Zealand Weed and Pest Control Conference,165–170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stufkens, M.W., Farrell, J.A. & Goldson, S.L. (1987) Establishment of Microctonus aethiopoides, a parasitoid of the sitona weevil in New Zealand. Proceedings of the 40th New Zealand Weed and Pest Control Conference,31–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, S.N. (1982) Effects of parasitization by the insect parasite Hypogaster exiguae on the growth, development and physiology of its host Trichoplusia ni. Parasitology 84, 491–510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vinson, S.B. (1972) Factors involved in successful attack on Heliothis virescens by the parasitoid Cardiochiles nigriceps. journal of Invertebrate Pathology 20, 118–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vinson, S.B. (1990) How parasites deal with the immune system of their host: An overview. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 13, 3–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vinson, S.B., Edson, K.M. & Stoltz, D.B. (1979) Effect of a virus associated with the reproductive system of the parasitoid wasp Campoletis sonorensis, on host weight gain. journal of Invertebrate Pathology 34, 133–137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar