Ecological Entomology (2018) 43, 60-68

Deborah Fischbein, José M. Villacide, Gerardo de La Vega and Juan C. Corley (2018)
Sex, life history and morphology drive individual variation in flight performance of an insect parasitoid
Ecological Entomology 43 (1), 60-68
Abstract: 1. The movement of organisms can be driven by multiple factors and has implications for fitness and the spatial distribution of populations. Insects spend a large proportion of their adult lives foraging by flying for resources; however, their capability and motivation to move can vary across individuals.
2. The aims of this study were to examine interindividual and sex differences in flight performance and flight characteristics, using a flight mill bioassay, in Megarhyssa nortoni (Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae), a parasitoid of the invasive woodwasp Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), one of the most important pests of pine afforestation worldwide. We also assessed the influence of morphological traits in combination with sex on flight and explored the cost of flight on longevity and mass loss.
3. The results show a difference between sexes in flight characteristics and performance. Females show greater total distance flown than males, and have a better capacity to undergo sustained flight. Sexual size dimorphism was also found and it was noted that size positively affects distances travelled. Females have a longer life span than males, yet no differences were noted in longevity within sex between individuals that did not fly and those that flew. Age did not influence flight performance of females or impacted on post-flight longevity. Females lost less body mass than males even after flying longer distances.
4. These results suggest that sex-specific behaviours probably govern flight abilities together with (and not only because of) morphological traits. The paper discusses sex-specific life-history strategies in parasitoids and their implications for biocontrol programmes.
(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): Deborah Fischbein, José M. Villacide, Juan Carlos Corley

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.
	Sirex noctilio	Pine (Pinus)	Argentina
Megarhyssa nortoni (parasitoid)	Sirex noctilio	Pine (Pinus)	Argentina