Development of Microplitis similis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on two candidate host species, Spodoptera litura and Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Authors

  • Shun-Ji Li College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
  • Ju-Ping Huang College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
  • Yang-Yang Chang College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
  • Si-Yuan Quan College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
  • Wen-Ting Yi College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
  • Zi-Shu Chen College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
  • Shuang-Qing Liu College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
  • Xiao-Wen Cheng Department of Microbiology, 32 Pearson Hall, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA
  • Guo-Hua Huang College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China

Keywords:

braconid, noctuid host, growth, development, age-specific survival rate, life table

Abstract

Microplitis similis Lyle (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary endoparasitic braconid that generally parasitizes larvae of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and many other noctuid species. To understand host preference, fitness, and the effects of M. similis on the hosts, we com­pared percentage parasitism, development periods, and the effects on host growth in candidate noctuid species. We found high levels of parasitism of S. exigua and Spodoptera litura (F.) larvae but not of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. The parasitoid wasp larvae took similar amounts of time for development on S. exigua and S. litura larvae, i.e., 13.87 ± 0.15 and 13.69 ± 0.42 d, respectively. Compared with the control larvae, the growth and development of the hosts were severely affected. The hosts were able to molt to 4th instars after being parasitized as early 3rd instars, but were unable to develop to the 5th instar. The body weight was similar between parasitized and non-parasitized larvae within the first 4 d (3 d in S. litura) but later began to show a significant difference from the 5th day on (4th day in S. litura). The host larvae eventually weighed up to 50 to 80% less than the non-parasitized larvae. Furthermore, the host larvae lived for an extended period in the same instar after egression of the parasitoid, but the body mass did not increase.

 

Resumen

Microplitis similis Lyle (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) es un bracónido endoparásito solitario que generalmente parasita larvas de Spo­doptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) y de muchas otras especies de noctuidos. Para entender la preferencia de hospe­dero, la aptitud y los efectos de M. similis en los hospederos, comparamos el porcentaje de parasitismo, el período de desarrollo y los efectos sobre el crecimiento del hospedero en los candidatos de especies de nóctuidos. Encontramos altos niveles de parasitismo en larvas de S. exigua y Spodoptera litura (F.) pero no en Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Las larvas de la avispa parasitoide tardó una cantidad similar de tiempo para desarrollarse en larvas de S. exigua y S. litura, 13.87 ± 0.15 y 13.69 ± 0.42 días, respectivamente. En comparación con las larvas del control, el crecimiento y el desarrollo de los hospederos fueron gravemente afectados. Los hospederos pudieron mudar al cuarto estadio después de ser parasitadas al principio de la tercera estadio, pero no pudieron desarrollarse hasta el quinto instar. El peso corporal fue similar entre las larvas parasitadas y larvas no parasitadas durnate de los primeros 4 días (3 días en S. litura), pero más tarde comenzaron a mostrar una diferencia significativa en el peso corporal en el quinto día (cuarto día en S. litura). Las larvas de los hospederos a lo largo pesaron hasta un 50-80% menos que las larvas no para­sitadas. Por otra parte, las larvas de los hospederos vivieron por un período prolongado en el mismo estadio después de la egresión del parasitoide, pero la masa del cuerpo no aumentó.

 

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Issue

Vol. 98, No. 2 (June 2015)

Section

Research Papers

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