Agricultural and Forest Entomology (2008) 10, 341-345

José M. Villacide and Juan C. Corley (2008)
Parasitism and dispersal potential of Sirex noctilio: implications for biological control
Agricultural and Forest Entomology 10 (4), 341-345
Abstract: 1 Sirex noctilio F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is a wood-boring wasp that attacks many pine species, including commercial trees planted throughout the world. Management of its populations is largely based on biological control using the nematode Beddingia siricidicola. Adult females are sterilized by the nematode, but are free to move and attack new trees, promoting nematode dispersal. Although generally successful, wasp management through nematode introductions has sometimes been inadequate.
2 We evaluated the effect of parasitism by B. siricidicola on flight performance of woodwasps under laboratory conditions. Using flight mills, we recorded a total of 46 flight trials over 23 h, obtained from infected and control (uninfected) females.
3 Although all wasps lost weight during flight, parasitized females were significantly smaller and suffered larger weight losses than uninfected females. In addition, total flight distance and velocity were lower in parasitized females.
4 Because nematode infection transmission relies on healthy wasps attacking trees previously visited by nematode-bearing females, differential dispersal capacity could limit biological control success.
(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): José M. Villacide, Juan Carlos Corley

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
population dynamics/ epidemiology
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
transmission/dispersal

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sirex noctilio
Deladenus siricidicola (entomopathogen)	Sirex noctilio