Insect Science (2011) 18, 78-83

Lian-Sheng Zang, Tong-Xian Liu, Fan Zhang, Shu-Sen Shi and Fang-Hao Wan (2011)
Mating and host density affect host feeding and parasitism in two species of whitefly parasitoids
Insect Science 18 (1), 78-83
Abstract: The parasitoids in the genera of Encarsia and Eretmocerus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) are important biological control agents of whiteflies, and some of them not only parasitize hosts but also kill them with strong host-feeding capacity. Two whitefly parasitoid species, Encarsia sophia and Eretmocerus melanoscutus were examined to determine if mating and host density affected their host feeding and parasitism. The whitefly host, Bemisia tabaci, was presented to these two wasp species in densities of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 third-instar nymphs per clip cage. Mated whitefly parasitoid females fed on more hosts than unmated females under a range of host densities (under all six host densities for En. sophia; under the densities of 40 nymphs or more for Er. melanoscutus). Meanwhile, mated females parasitized more whitefly nymphs than unmated females under all host densities for both species. With increase of host density, mated or unmated Er. melanoscutus females killed more hosts by host feeding and parasitism. Mated En. sophia females killed more hosts by host feeding with increase of host density, whereas unmated females did not parasitze whitefly nymphs at all. Our results suggest that only mated female parasitoids with host-feeding behavior should be released in crop systems to increase their bio-control efficiency.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Tong Xian Liu, Fang Hao Wan, L.S. Zang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci
Encarsia sophia (parasitoid)	Bemisia tabaci
Eretmocerus melanoscutus (parasitoid)	Bemisia tabaci