Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2002) 103, 73-81
Eric Darrouzet, Jacques Huignard and Claude Chevrier (2002)
Effect of differential host exposure on reproduction in the solitary ectoparasitoid Eupelmus vuilleti
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 103 (1), 73-81
Abstract: We examined self-superparasitism in Eupelmus vuilleti (CRW.), a solitary ectoparasitoid of larvae of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) which develop in cowpea seeds. The reproduction of isolated females was analysed in the presence of seeds containing 10 or 30 hosts for 24, 48, and 72 h. At the two host densities, female reproductive activity increased with host exposure time, but variations in offspring number per female were limited. The propensity of the females to self-superparasitise their hosts after long exposure times could explain these results. The offspring sex ratio was female biased but tended to 0.5 for longer exposure times. The absence of host renewal for a 3-day period was followed by an increase in self-superparasitism which reduced the parasitoid survival rate and by emergence of a lower number of females in the offspring. The offspring production was then analysed when females were provided with ten hosts a day or with 30 hosts every three days throughout their life span. The reduction of host renewal frequency did not affect male production but caused a reduction in the number of females emerging from the seeds. The importance of a high rate of self-superparasitism on the population biology of this parasitoid is discussed.
(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): Eric Darrouzet, Claude Chevrier
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callosobruchus maculatus | Stored legumes | |||
| Eupelmus vuilleti (parasitoid) | Callosobruchus maculatus | Stored legumes |
