Entomological Science (2019) 22, 264-269

Masahito T. Kimura (2019)
Overwintering of reproductively mature females of a pro-ovigenic parasitic wasp, Leptopilina heterotoma (Hymenoptera: Figitidae)
Entomological Science 22 (3), 264-269
Abstract: Leptopilina heterotoma is a Drosophila parasitoid mainly occurring in temperate regions, and females of this species are pro-ovigenic (i.e. all or nearly all of their lifetime eggs are already mature at emergence). Here I investigated how L. heterotoma overwinters in Sapporo, Japan, a cool temperate region, by outdoor and laboratory experiments. Females of this species had mature eggs at emergence as expected, and they did not resorb eggs even if they were exposed to cold or starvation. Nevertheless, females were able to overwinter, and post-overwintering females retained parasitization capacity. In this species, thus, adult overwintering is not associated with reproductive diapause. However, females grown in late autumn or at low temperatures (e.g. 5°C) had a fewer number of mature eggs and higher winter survival. At low temperatures, female larvae could save energy by reducing egg production and allocate the saved energy to expenditure for overwintering. In contrast to females, males and pre-adult individuals were not able to overwinter.
(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): Masahito T. Kimura

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
population dynamics/epizootiology

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Leptopilina heterotoma (parasitoid)			Japan