Journal of Economic Entomology (2016) 109, 1524-1528

Xu Yang, Yu-Li Qu, Zhi-Yi Wu, Ying Lin, Chang-Chun Ruan, Nicolas Desneux and Lian-Sheng Zang (2016)
Parasitism and suitability of fertilized and nonfertilized eggs of the rice striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), for Trichogramma parasitoids
Journal of Economic Entomology 109 (4), 1524-1528
Abstract: Parasitoids can utilize the nutrition of host eggs to culture their own offsprings. Host qualities, including size, age, and species, influence parasitism preference and fitness of the parasitoid offsprings. However, an interesting question here is whether the parasitoids have the ability of recognizing fertilized and nonfertilized host eggs. In this study, we investigated the performance of three indigenous Trichogramma species (Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead, Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura, and Trichogramma chilonis Ishii) on fertilized and nonfertilized eggs of their native host, Chilo suppressalis (Walker). The results showed that the three Trichogramma species tested could recognize fertilized and nonfertilized eggs of C. suppressalis. The different fertilization status eggs of C. suppressalis were all accepted by T. japonicum, T. chilonis, and T. dendrolimi with a clear tendency that they preferred to parasitize fertilized eggs whether under no-choice or choice conditions. All Trichogramma species successfully completed development in parasitized eggs of C. suppressalis regardless if the host eggs were fertilized or not. There was similar adult emergence rate, development time, and female progeny between fertilized and nonfertilized eggs for all Trichogramma species with an exception of development for T. chilonis. Trichogramma chilonis had shorter developmental time in fertilized eggs than in nonfertilized ones. Whether in fertilized or nonfertilized eggs, T. dendrolimi had longer development time than other two Trichogramma species. However, T. dendrolimi had the largest percentage of female progeny on fertilized eggs, followed by T. japonicum, and T. chilonis had the least percentage of female progeny. The present study indicates that Trichogramma can recognize fertilized and nonfertilized host eggs and use the nonfertilized eggs to finish offspring development.
(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): Lian-Sheng Zang, Nicolas Desneux

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.
	Chilo suppressalis
Trichogramma chilonis (parasitoid)	Chilo suppressalis
Trichogramma dendrolimi (parasitoid)	Chilo suppressalis
Trichogramma japonicum (parasitoid)	Chilo suppressalis