Insects (2016) 7 (4 - 67)

Maria Luisa Dindo, Santolo Francati, Alberto Lanzoni, Cinzia di Vitantonio, Elisa Marchetti, Giovanni Burgio and Stefano Maini (2016)
Interactions between the multicolored Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis and the parasitoid Dinocampus coccinellae
Insects 7 (4 - 67)
Abstract: Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) has been introduced either intentionally or accidentally in different areas outside its native range, where it is often regarded as invasive. Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank) has been recorded to parasitize H. axyridis in the field, both in the native and introduced areas, Italy included. The percent of parasitism found in our field investigation was low (four percent). The effect of exposure time of H. axyridis to D. coccinellae and the impact of parasitization on host longevity, oviposition capacity and egg fertility were evaluated in the laboratory. The acceptance and suitability of H. axyridis as host for D. coccinellae were then studied, in comparison with the native coccinellid Adalia bipunctata (L.), which shares the same ecological niche. The effects of parasitization on female longevity and reproduction capacity in the exotic vs. the indigenous lady beetle were also investigated. The overall results showed that D. coccinellae negatively affected the fitness of H. axyridis, more than that of A. bipunctata. The parasitoid may thus play a marginal role in controlling the populations of the Asian lady beetle, without representing a threat to A. bipunctata.
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Database assignments for author(s): Stefano Maini, Santolo Francati, Giovanni Burgio

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Adalia bipunctata (predator)			Italy
Coccinella septempunctata (predator)			Italy
Harmonia axyridis (predator)			Italy
Hippodamia variegata (predator)			Italy
Dinocampus coccinellae (parasitoid)			Italy