Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development and encapsulation of the endoparasitoid,Microplitis croceipes (Hym.: Braconidae), in six candidate host species (Lep.)

  • Published:
Entomophaga Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Encapsulation and development of the endoparasitoid,Microplitis croceipes (Cresson), were studied in six atypical lepidopteran host species whose usual host isHelicoverpa zea (Boddie). The candidate hosts examined were: the fall armywormSpodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith); the beet armyworm,Spodoptera exigua (Hübner); the cabbage looper,Trichoplusia ni (Hübner); the greater wax moth,Galleria mellonella (L.); the Indian meal moth,Plodia interpunctella (Hübner); and the diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (L.). BothS. exigua andT. ni were completely unsuitable forM. croceipes development due to the high rate of eggs that were encapsulated within three days after parasitism. Encapsulation inS. frugiperda included mainly parasitoid eggs and was first detected six days after parasitization at 25°C and two days at 30°C. Encapsulation inG. mellonella occurred only in the larval stage of the parasitoid. InP. interpunctella, parasitoid larvae reached the 3rd stadium, but none of them pupated. OnlyS. frugiperda andG. mellonella supported successful development ofM. croceipes from egg to adult. The percentage of parasitoids reaching the adult stage in these hosts was higher at 30°C than at 25°C (13% vs. 4% inS. frugiperda, and 21% vs. 3% inG. mellonella, respectively). However, these percentages were too low to substitute them as a more economical host for rearingM. croceipes. This biological information will be useful in additional laboratory studies directed toward reducing the rate of encapsulation (e.g., manipulation of host rearing temperature) to increase production ofM. croceipes on these hosts.

Résumé

L'encapsulation et le développement de l'endoparasitoïde,Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) dont l'hôte habituel estHelicoverpa zea (Boddie) ont été étudiés chez 6 autres hôtes possibles. Ces hôtes potentiels sont:Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith),S. exigua (Hübner),Trichoplusia ni (Hübner),Galleria mellonella (L.),Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) etP. xylostella (L.).S. exigua etT. ni ne permettent pas le développement deM. croceipes et les œufs du parasitoïde présentent un fort taux d'encapsulation dans les 3 jours qui suivent leur ponte. L'encapsulation chezS. frugiperda se produit principalement au stade œuf du parasitoïde et elle est décelable dès le 6e jour après la ponte à 25° et dès le 2e jour à 30°C. ChezG. mellonella, l'encapsulation ne concerne que la larve du parasitoïde. ChezP. interpunctella, les larves du parasitoïde atteignent le 3e stade mais jamais le stade nymphe. SeulsS. frugiperda etG. mellonella permettent le développement complet deM. croceipes. Le pourcentage de parasitoïdes se développant jusqu'au stade adulte est plus élevé à 30°C qu'à 25°C (13% contre 4% chezS. frugiperda et 21% contre 3% chezG. mellonella, respectivement). Cependant, ces pourcentages ne sont pas assez élevés pour que ces 2 espèces soient de meilleurs hôtes queH. zea pour l'élevage deM. croceipes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bartlett, B. R. &Ball, J. C. — 1966. The evolution of host suitability in a polyphagous parasite with special reference to the role of parasite egg encapsulation. —Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 59, 42–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, D. — 1977. Encapsulation of parasitoid eggs in soft scales (Homoptera: Coccidae). —Ecol. Entomol. 2, 185–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, D. — 1982. Further studies of the encapsulation ofMetaphycus swirskii by soft scales. —Entomol. Exp. Appl., 31, 245–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, D. — 1988. Encapsulation of eggs of the encyrtid wasp,Metaphycus swirskii, by the hemispherical scale,Saissetia coffea: Effects of host age and rearing temperature. —Entomol. Exp. Appl. 47, 95–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, D. — 1991. Seasonal variation in the encapsulation of eggs of the encyrtid parasitoidMetaphycus stanleyi by the pyriform scale,Protopulvinaria pyriformis. —Entomol. Exp. Appl., 58, 231–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, D. &DeBach, P. — 1981. Effects of temperature and host age upon the encapsulation ofMetaphycus stanleyi andMetaphycus helvolus eggs by brown soft scaleCoccus hesperidum. —J. Invert. Pathol. 37, 73–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, R. H. — 1971. The influence of the parasiteComperiella bifasciata How. on the population of two species of armoured scale insects,Aonidiella aurantii (Mask.) andA. citrina (Coq.) in South Australia. —Aust. J. Zool., 19, 53–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Counce, S. J. &Waddington, C. H. — 1972. Developmental Systems: Insects. Vol. 1, Academic Press, NY, 304 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dijkerman, H. J. — 1990. Suitability of eightYponomeuta species as hosts ofDiadegma armilata. —Entomol. Exp. Appl. 54, 173–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, P. E. — 1986. Biochemical aspects of insect immunity.Ann. Rev. Entomol. 31, 321–339.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferkovich, S. M., Dillard, C. &Oberlander, H. — 1991. Stimulation of embryonic development inMicroplitis croceipes (Braconidae) in cell culture media preconditined with a fat body cell line derived from a nonpermissive host, the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar. —Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 18, 169–175.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferkovich, S. M., Oberlander, H., Dillard, C. &Leach, C; E. — 1994. Embryonic development of an endoparasitoid,M. croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in cell line-conditioned media.In Vitro Cell Dev. Biol. 30A: 279–282.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greany, P. — 1986.In vitro culture of hymenopterous larval endoparasitoids. —J. Insect Physiol. 32, 409–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greany, P. — 1989. Progress towards development of an artificial diet and anin vitro rearing system forMicroplitis croceipes. —Southwest. Entomol. 12; 89–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greany, P., Clark, W., Ferkovich, S. M., Law, J., Ryan, R. &Boucias, D. — 1989. Isolation and characterization of a host hemolymph protein required for development of the eggs of the endoparasiteMicroplitis croceipes, p. 38.In Molecular Insect ScienceH. H. Hagedorn, J. G. Hildebrand, M. G. Kidwell &J. H. Law (eds.), Intl. Symp. Molec. Insect Sci., Oct. 22–29, 1992. Ctr. for Insect Sci., Univ. Arizona, Tuscon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greany, P. D., Vinson, S. B. &Lewis, W. J. — 1984. Insect parasitoids: Findings new opportunities for biological control.Bioscience 34, 690–696.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grenier, S., Greany, P. D. &Cohen, A.C. — 1994. Potential for mass release of insect parasitoids and predators through development of artificial culture techniques.In Pest Managements In The Subtropics: Biological Control — A Florida Perspective (D. Rosen, F. D. Bennet &J. L. Capinera (eds.)),Intercept ltd, Andover (UK), 181–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, E. G. &Coleman, R. J. — 1989. Potential for biological control ofHeliothis Species. —Ann. Rev. Entomol. 34, 53–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, E. G., Powell, J. E. &Coleman, R. J. — 1985. A high incidence of parasitism ofHeliothis spp. (Lep.: Noctuidae) larvae in cotton in southeastern Arkansas. —Entomophaga 30, 419–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knipling, E. F. &Stadelbacher, E. A. — 1983. The rationale for area wide management ofHeliothis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations. —Bull. Entomol. Soc. Am. 29, 29–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, W. J. & Brazzel, J. R. — 1966. Incidence of parasitic insects of the bollworm in Mississippi. Mississippi Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 727.

  • Lynn, D. C. &Vinson, S. B. — 1977. Effects of temperature, host age and hormones upon the encapsulation ofCardiochiles nigriceps eggs byHeliothis spp. —J. Invert. Pathol. 29, 50–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, T. T. &Phillips, J. R. — 1983. Population dynamics ofHeliothis spp. in spring weed hosts in southern Arkansas: Survivorship and state-specific parasitism. —Environ. Entomol. 12, 1846–1850.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muldraw, J. A. — 1953. The natural immunity of the larch sawflyPristiphora erichsonii (HTG.) to the introduced parasiteMesoleius tenthredinis Morley, in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. —Can. J. Zool. 31, 313–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, J. E. &King, E. G. — 1984. Behavior of adultMicroplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and parasitism ofHeliothis spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) host larvae in cotton. —Environ. Entomol. 13, 272–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, J. E., King, E. G. &Jany, C. S. — 1986. Toxicity of insecticides to adultMicroplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). —J. Econ. Entomol. 79, 1343–1346.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D. K., Hart, W. G. &Ingle, S. J. — 1968. Laboratory rearing of brown soft scale and its hymenopterous parasites. —Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 61, 1443–1446.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salt, G. — 1963. The defence reactions of insects to metazoan parasites. —Parasitology 53, 527–642.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snow, J. W., Hamm, J. J. &Brazzel, J. R. — 1966.Geranium carolinianum as the early host forHeliothis zea andH. virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Southeastern United States, with notes on associated parasites. —Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 59, 506–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steel, R. G. D. &Torrie, J. H. — 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. —McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoltz, D. B. &Guzo, D. — 1986. Apparent haemocytic transformations associated with parasitoidinduced inhibition of immunity inMalacosoma disstria larvae. —J. Insect. Physiol. 32, 377–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoltz, D. B. &Vinson, S. B. — 1979. Viruses and parasitism in insects. —Ad. Virus Res. 24, 125–171.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stoltz, D. B., Vinson, S. B. &MacKinnon, E. A. — 1976. Baculovirus-like particles in the reproductive tracts of female parasitoid wasps. —Can. J. Microbiol. 22, 1013–1023.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vinson, S. B. &Iwantsch, G. F. — 1980. Host suitability for insect parasitoids. —Ann. Rev. Entomol. 25, 397–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zehnder, G. W., Herbert, D. A., McPherson, R. M., Speese, J. III &Moss, T. —1990. Incidence ofHeliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and associated parasitoids in Virginia soybeans. —Environ. Entomol. 19, 1135–1140.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. D. Blumberg

    Present address: Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Insect Attractants, Behavior, Basic Biology Research Laboratory Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Gainesville, 32604, Florida, USA

    D. Blumberg & S. M. Ferkovich

Authors
  1. D. Blumberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. M. Ferkovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Blumberg, D., Ferkovich, S.M. Development and encapsulation of the endoparasitoid,Microplitis croceipes (Hym.: Braconidae), in six candidate host species (Lep.). Entomophaga 39, 293–302 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02373034

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02373034

Key-Words

Search

Navigation