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Interspecific Competition Between Idiobiont Larval Parasitoids of Emerald Ash Borer

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Abstract

New associations between parasitoid species is common in biological control with interactions ranging from coexistence to competitive exclusion. Spathius agrili and Spathius galinae, native to North East Asia, are two host-specific idiobiont larval parasitoids of the invasive emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis that do not overlap in their native ranges but have been recently introduced to the United States for biocontrol of A. planipennis. We conducted laboratory experiments to determine the results of competition between these two species. Competition between parasitoid larvae on a single host (intrinsic competition) and competition between adult parasitoids for oviposition sites (extrinsic competition) were evaluated. Successful multiparasitism did not occur in any intrinsic trials. Extrinsic competition favored S. agrili, but S. galinae was not excluded. Competition lowered parasitism rates for both species, but overall parasitism was not lowered.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Erin Langton-Ragozzino, Becca Robertson for help rearing EAB and S. galinae, and Jonathan Schmude for help with materials and supplies. Thank you to Miranda Pacheco for copy-editing versions of this manuscript and to Liam Sullivan and Beckie Kanterman for additional early review. Additional thanks go to the staff of the Brighton, MI USDA Rearing facility, who reared S. agrili, without them this experiment would not be possible. This research was funded through United States Forest Service grant 15-DG-11083150-042 and United States Department of Agriculture Research Service grant 58-8010-5-016.

Funding

This research was funded through USFS Grant 15-DG-11083150-042 and USDA ARS Grant 58-8010-5-016.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Price Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Max Ragozzino & Scott Salom

  2. USDA ARS BIIRU, 501 S. Chapel St, Newark, DE, 19702, USA

    Jian Duan

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  1. Max Ragozzino
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Correspondence to Max Ragozzino.

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Ragozzino, M., Duan, J. & Salom, S. Interspecific Competition Between Idiobiont Larval Parasitoids of Emerald Ash Borer. J Insect Behav 34, 186–193 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-021-09781-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-021-09781-1

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