Journal of Insect Behavior (2014) 27, 439-453

Abdalbaset A.A. Bugila, José Carlos Franco, Elsa Borges da Silva and Manuela Branco (2014)
Defense response of native and alien mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) against the solitary parasitoid Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 27 (4), 439-453
Abstract: The host behavioral and immune (encapsulation) defenses against the parasitoid Anagyrus sp. nr. pseudococci were compared for five mealybug species with different phylogenetic relationships and geographical origins: i) a Mediterranean native mealybug species, Planococcus ficus, with a long co-evolutionary history with the parasitoid; ii) three alien mealybugs species, Planococcus citri, Pseudococcus calceolariae and Pseudococcus viburni, with a more recent co-evolutionary history; and iii) a fourth alien mealybug species, Phenacoccus peruvianus, with no previous common history with the parasitoid. Three host defense behaviors were registered: abdominal flipping, reflex bleeding and walking away. The native host Pl. ficus and its congener Pl. citri exhibited the lowest probability of defense behavior (0.11 ± 0.01 and 0.09 ± 0.01 respectively), whereas the highest value was observed in P. viburni (0.31 ± 0.02). Intermediate levels of defense behavior were registered for Ps. calceolariae, and Ph. peruvianus. The probability of parasitoid encapsulation was lowest and highest for two alien host species, Ph. peruvianus (0.20 ± 0.07) and Ps. viburni (0.86 ± 0.05), respectively. The native host Pl. ficus, its congener Pl. citri and Ps. calceolariae showed intermediate values (0.43 ± 0.07, 0.52 ± 0.06, and 0.45 ± 0.09, respectively). The results are relevant with respect to biological control and to understand possible evolutionary processes involved in host range of A. sp. nr. pseudococci.
(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): Abdalbaset A.A. Bugila, José Carlos Franco, Manuela R. Branco

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Planococcus citri
	Pseudococcus viburni
	Pseudococcus calceolariae
	Planococcus ficus
	Phenacoccus peruvianus