Ecological Entomology (2014) 39, 723-731

Yibo Zhang, Hualong Zhang, Nianwan Yang, Jinjun Wang and Fanghao Wan (2014)
Income resources and reproductive opportunities change life history traits and the egg/time limitation trade-off in a synovigenic parasitoid
Ecological Entomology 39 (6), 723-731
Abstract: 1. Synovigenic parasitoids emerging with no or only a few mature oocytes could not rely on only capital resources, but also need to acquire income resources. Income resources in nature can either contribute to egg maturation as a food resource and/or create unpredictability in realised reproductive opportunities for synovigenic parasitoids. Therefore, we hypothesised such resources could affect life history traits and the risks of egg/time limitation in synovigenic parasitoids.
2. Using the Ovigeny Index, we investigated the effects of various host availability levels (unavailable, limited, and unlimited availability) and non-host foods (water and honey) on life history traits and on the occurrence of egg/time limitation in Eretmocerus hayati, a predominant parasitoid on Bemisia tabaci.
3. The Ovigeny Index of Er. hayati was 0.28, which suggested it was a typical synovigenic species. Both host availability levels and non-food type had major effects on life history traits of this parasitoid, but the availability of hosts for both feeding and reproduction was the key factor. Meanwhile, egg/time limitation was encountered by all wasps and its intensity varied with host availability levels.
4. Our results confirmed that the income resource and reproductive opportunity played a central role in shaping the life history and risks of egg/time limitation of a synovigenic parasitoid.
(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): Fang Hao Wan, Jin-Jun Wang

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
Eretmocerus hayati (parasitoid)	Bemisia tabaci