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Loss of host fidelity in highly inbred populations of the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

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Abstract

Inbreeding frequently reduces the fitness of organisms, but little is known about how this phenomenon can affect the biological control. Host fidelity provides an adaptive advantage to aphid parasitoids, allowing females to find their aphid host more quickly in heterogeneous environments. This trait is mediated by the learning of signals, mainly chemical cues emitted from the host in which parasitoids developed (natal). This article is aimed at studying whether host fidelity can be altered after many generations of inbreeding reproduction in caged laboratory populations, for which host preference and fitness parameters were measured in the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi. Also, the effect of the natal/non-natal hosts was studied, using parasitoids originated from the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae). We observed a loss of host fidelity in the studied A. ervi populations, irrespective of their natal aphid host, which contrasts with previous reports showing preference for natal hosts in outbred laboratory populations. The loss of host fidelity is discussed in terms of the origin of populations; the sex ratio was strongly biased toward males and long-time maintenance under laboratory conditions. Our results highlight the need for controlling the genetic diversity of caged parasitoids before they are released into fields, as a long period of inbreeding could negatively affect the biological control.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Angélica González, Gabriel Ballesteros, and Sebastián Ortíz for helping us in aphid and parasitoid rearing and data analysis and with advice on parasitoid biology and species determinations. DAS thanks to Iniciativa Científica Milenio grant NC120027 for a fellowship. Also, we thank the valuable comments made by anonymous referees.

Funding

This study was funded by FONDECYT (Grant Number 1130483 to CCF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca, Chile

    D. A. Sepúlveda

  2. Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca, Chile

    F. Zepeda-Paulo, C. C. Ramírez, B. Lavandero & C. C. Figueroa

  3. Millennium Nucleus Centre in Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Applications in the Agroecosystems, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca, Chile

    D. A. Sepúlveda, C. C. Ramírez & C. C. Figueroa

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  1. D. A. Sepúlveda
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  2. F. Zepeda-Paulo
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  3. C. C. Ramírez
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  4. B. Lavandero
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  5. C. C. Figueroa
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Correspondence to C. C. Figueroa.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Communicated by M. Traugott.

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Sepúlveda, D.A., Zepeda-Paulo, F., Ramírez, C.C. et al. Loss of host fidelity in highly inbred populations of the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). J Pest Sci 90, 649–658 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0798-8

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