Biocontrol Science and Technology (2009) 19, 931-941

Jun Ding, Jiancheng Li, Xiaoxia Liu and Qingwen Zhang (2009)
The life parameters of a parasitoid Microplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), reared on cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) with Cry1Ac diet
Biocontrol Science and Technology 19 (9), 931-941
Abstract: Microplitis mediator (Haliday) is an important endoparasitoid of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in northern China. Interactions among H. armigera, its larval parasitoid M. mediator, and Cry1Ac over two generations were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The results indicated that the developmental period of M. mediator offspring's eggs and larvae were significantly delayed and pupal and adult weight were significantly less compared to the control when the female parasitoids parasitized H. armigera larvae that fed on diet containing 1, 2, 4 and 8 µg/g Cry1Ac. The female parasitoids emerged from the host fed diet containing 8 µg/g Cry1Ac could oviposit in healthy hosts, and their offspring's biological parameters (egg-larval period, pupal weight and adult weight), parasitism rate, abnormal cocoon rate and adult emergence were not significantly affected. Cry1Ac was detected in larvae and hemolymph of H. armigera, but not in the larvae of M. mediator. The results suggest that the observed significant effects on several fitness parameters of the F₁ M. mediator developed from H. armigera fed Cry1Ac diet most likely were host-quality mediated rather than direct effects of Cry1Ac.
(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): Xiao-Xia Liu, Jiancheng Li

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.
	Helicoverpa armigera		China (NE)
Microplitis mediator (parasitoid)	Helicoverpa armigera		China (NE)
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A-toxin (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera