Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:47:35.670Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Description and behavioural biology of two Ufens species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), egg parasitoids of Homalodisca species (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in southern California

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

A.K. Al-Wahaibi
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
A.K. Owen
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
J.G. Morse*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
*
*Fax: 951 827 3086 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The morphology, distribution, and hosts of two egg parasitoids, Ufens principalis Owen sp. n. and U. ceratus Owen sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), are described for the first time. These species are compared to U. niger (Ashmead), the only species of Ufens s. str. currently described from the Nearctic, and diagnostic differences are presented. The behavioural biology of U. principalis, and U. ceratus to a smaller extent, is also described for the first time. Ufens principalis exhibited rapid and long-distance response in the form of directional flight toward freshly laid eggs of Homalodisca species, its primary hosts in southern California. Parasitism involved aggregations of female U. principalis on fresh Homalodisca egg masses, which remained attractive to U. principalis for a relatively short time. The level of oviposition by U. principalis females was low during most of the day and peaked before sunset in tandem with a peak in Homalodisca oviposition. Oviposition behaviour of U. principalis is described and the distribution of ovipositor probe durations showed that most probes were generally of very short duration. Mating of both Ufens species occurred on the egg mass, with males showing aggressive behaviour towards each other as they competed for emerging females. Ufens ceratus males displayed greater aggression towards other males than U. principalis males. By contrast, fights among U. principalis males involved more individuals and lasted longer than corresponding fights between U. ceratus males.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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

Al-Wahaibi, A. (2004) Studies on two Homalodisca species (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in southern California: biology of the egg stage, host plant and temporal effects on oviposition and associated parasitism, and the biology and ecology of two of their egg parasitoids, Ufens A and Ufens B (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). 434 pp. PhD dissertation. Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California.Google Scholar
Al-Wahaibi, A.K. & Morse, J.G. (2000) Oviposition of Homalodisca species (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and associated egg parasitoids on citrus: cultivar effects, p. 1112in Hoddle, M.S., (Ed.) Proceedings, Second California Conference on Biological Control, 11–12 July 2000, Mission Inn, Riverside, California. University of California, Riverside.Google Scholar
Bakkendorf, O. (1934) Biological investigations on some Danish hymenopterous egg parasites, especially in homopterous eggs, with taxonomic remarks and descriptions of new species. Entomologisc Forening, Copenhagen 19, 1134.Google Scholar
Blua, M.J., Phillips, P.A. & Redak, R.A. (1999) A new sharpshooter threatens both crops and ornamentals. California Agriculture 53, 2225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burks, R.A. & Redak, R.A. (2003) The identity and reinstatement of Homalodisca liturata Ball and Phera lacerta Fowler (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 105, 674678.Google Scholar
Doutt, R.L. & Viggiani, G. (1968) The classification of the Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 35, 477586 4th series.Google Scholar
Freitag, J.H., Frazier, N.W. & Flock, R.A. (1952) Six new leafhopper vectors of Pierce's disease virus. Phytopathology 42, 533534.Google Scholar
Girault, A.A. (1911) Descriptions of nine new genera of the chalcidoid family Trichogrammatidae. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 37, 3235.Google Scholar
Henriquez, N.P. & Spence, J.R. (1993) Studies of Lathromeroidea sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), a parasitoid of gerrid eggs. Canadian Entomologist 125, 693702.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heraty, J. & Hawks, D. (1999) Hexamethyldisilazane – a chemical alternative for drying insects. Entomological News 109, 369374.Google Scholar
Hessein, N.A. & McMurtry, J.A. (1988) Observations on Megaphragma mymaripenne Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), an egg parasite of Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis Bouche (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Pan-Pacific Entomology 64, 250254.Google Scholar
Huber, J.T. (1988) The species groups of Gonatocerus Nees in North America with a revision of the sulphuripes and ater Groups (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 141, 1109.Google Scholar
Kaiser, L., Pham-Delegue, M.H., Bachine, E., Masson, C. (1989) Olfactory responses of Trichogramma maidis Pint. and Voeg.: effects of chemical cues and behavioral plasticity. Journal of Insect Behavior 2, 701712.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kersting, U., Baspinar, H. (1995) Seasonal and diurnal flight activity of Circulifer haematoceps (Hom., Cicadellidae), an important leafhopper vector in the Mediterranean area and the Near East. Journal of Applied Entomology 119, 533537.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lin, N. (1994) Systematic studies of Chinese Trichogrammatidae. Contributions of the Biological Control Research Institute, Fujian Agricultural University. Special Publication No. 4, 362 pp. Chongqing P.R., China, Chongqing Publishing House.Google Scholar
Miura, K. (1992) Aggressive behavior in Paracentrobia andoi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae), an egg parasitoid of the green rice leafhopper. Japanese Journal of Entomology 60, 103107.Google Scholar
Morgan, D.J.W., Triapitsyn, S.V., Redak, R.A., Bezark, L.G. & Hoddle, M.S. (2000) Biological control of the glassy-winged sharpshooter: current status and future potential Proceedings, Second California Conference on Biological Control, 167171in Hoddle, M.S., (Ed.) Proceedings, Second California Conference on Biological Control, 11–12 July 2000, Mission Inn, Riverside, California. University of California, Riverside, California.Google Scholar
Pinto, J.D. (1997) Trichogrammatidae. Chapter 22, pp. 726752in Gibson, G.A.P., Huber, J.T. & Woolley, J.B. (Eds.) Annotated keys to the genera of nearctic Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). 794 pp. Ottawa. NRC Research Press.Google Scholar
Pinto, J.D. (1999) Systematics of the North American species of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Memoirs of The Entomological Society of Washington 22, 1287.Google Scholar
Pinto, J.D, Frommer, S.I. & Manweiler, S.A. (1987) The insects of jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis, in natural stands and plantations in southwestern North America. Southwestern Entomologist 12, 287298.Google Scholar
Powers, N.R. (1973) The biology and host plant relations of Homalodisca lacerta (Fowler) in southern California. MS thesis, Department of Biology, California State University, San Diego, California.Google Scholar
Purcell, A.H., Saunders, S.R., Hendson, M., Grebus, M.E. & Henry, M.J. (1999) Causal role of Xylella fastidiosa in oleander leaf scorch disease. Phytopathology 89, 5358.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quicke, D.L.J. (1997) Parasitic wasps, 470 pp. London, Chapman and Hall.Google Scholar
SAS Institute (1996) JMP IN Version 3.SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
Sorensen, J.T. & Gill, R.J. (1996) A range extension of Homalodisca coagulata (Say) (Hemiptera: Clypeorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) to southern California. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 72, 160161.Google Scholar
Suzuki, Y., Tsuji, H., Sasakawa, M. (1984) Sex allocation and effects of superparasitism on secondary sex ratios in the gregarious parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Animal Behavior 32, 478484.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Triapitsyn, S.V. (2003) Taxonomic notes on the genera and species of Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera) egg parasitoids of the Proconiine sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Clypeorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Proconiini) in southeastern USA. Transactions of the Amercian Entomological Society 129, 245265.Google Scholar
Triapitsyn, S.V. & Hoddle, M.S. (2001) Search for and collect egg parasitoids of glassy-winged sharpshooter in southeastern USA and northeastern Mexico. pp. 133134in Tariq, M.A.Oswalt, S. & Esser, T. (Eds.) Proceedings of the Piercés disease Research Symposium,5–7 December 2001,Coronado Island Marriot Resort, San Diego, California. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, California.Google Scholar
Triapitsyn, S.V. & Hoddle, M.S. (2002) Search for and collect egg parasitoids of glassy-winged sharpshooter in southeastern USA and northeastern Mexico. 95–94 in Tariq, M.A., Oswalt, S., Blincoe, P. & Esser, T. (eds.) Proceedings of the Pierce's disease Research Symposium,15–18, December 2002,Coronado Island Marriot Resort, San Diego, California. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, California.Google Scholar
Triapitsyn, S.V., Mizell, R.F., Bossart, J.L. & Carlton, C.E. (1998) Egg parasitoids of Homalodisca coagulata (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). Florida Entomologist 81, 241243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Triapitsyn, S.V., Bezark, L.G. & Morgan, D.J. (2002) Redescription of Gonatocerus atriclavus Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with notes on other egg parasitoids of sharpshooters (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Proconiini) in northeastern Mexico. Pan-Pacific Entomology 78, 3442.Google Scholar
Triapitsyn, S.V., Morgan, D.J., Hoddle, M.S. & Berezovskiy, V.V. (2003) Observations on the biology of Gonatocerus fasciatus Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), egg parasitoid of Homalodisca coagulata (Say) and Oncometopia orbona (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Clypeorrhyncha: Cicadellidae). Pan-Pacific Entomology 79, 7576.Google Scholar
Turlings, T.C.J., Scheepmaker, J.W.A., Vet, L.E.M., Tumlinson, J.H. & Lewis, W.J. (1990) How contact foraging experiences affect preferences for host-related odors in the larval parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 16, 15771589.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turlings, T.C.J., Tumlinson, J.H., Eller, F.J. & Lewis, W.J. (1991) Larval-damaged plants: source of volatile synomones that guide the parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris to the micro-habitat of its hosts. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 58, 7582.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turner, W.F. & Pollard, H.N. (1959) Life histories and behavior of five insect vectors of phony peach disease. USDA Technical Bulletin 1188, 128.Google Scholar
UCOP (2000) Report of the University of California Pierce's disease research and emergency response task force. Office of the President, University of California, Oakland, California.Google Scholar
Van Dijken, M.J. & Waage, J.K. (1987) Self and conspecific superparasitism by the egg parasitoid Trichogramma evanescens. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 43, 183192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Varela, L.G., Smith, R.J. & Phillips, P.A. (2001) Pierce's disease. University of California, Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Publication No. 21600. University of California, Oakland, California.Google Scholar
Vungsilabutr, P. (1978) Biological and morphological studies of Paracentrobia andoi (Ishi) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), a parasite of the green rice leafhopper, Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler (Homoptera: Deltocephalidae). Esakia 11, 2951.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, J.M., Raju, B.C., Hung, H.Y., Weisburg, W.G., Mandelcopaul, L. & Brenner, D.J. (1987) Xylella fastidiosa, gen-nov, sp-nov, gram-negative, xylem-limited, fastidious plant bacteria related to Xanthomonas spp. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 37, 136143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar