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The comparative biology of the pupal endoparasitoidPsychophagus omnivorus (Hym.:Pteromalidae) on three candidate lepidopteran hosts

Biologie comparée de l’endoparasitoïdePsychophagus omnivorus (Hym.:Ptermalidae) sur trois lépidoptères-hôtes potentiels

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Abstract

Laboratory trials designed to investigate the biology of the gregarious endoparasitoidPsychophagus omnivorus (Hym.:Pteromolidae) on pupae of the pest speciesChrysodeixis chalcites, Spodoptera exigua orLacanobia oleracea (Lep.:Noctuidae) reveal that each of these candidate hosts can be used as oviposition sites. In all cases, wasp fecundity is high and generation is rapid. A minimum of 10 daughters is produced by eachP. omnivorus female every 3.5 weeks. Patterns of host attack and the distribution of wasp brood size vary according to the identity of the available host.Chrysodeixis chalcites andL. oleracea pupae are attacked at a moderate rate, but individual hosts support large broods. By contrast, individualS. exigua hosts sustain smaller broods, but these hosts are parasitised at a higher rate. WhenP. omnivorus encountersC. chalcites orL. oleracea, most host-attacks occur within the first 10 days of her adult lifespan. However, whenP. omnivorus is presented withS. exigua the oviposition period is prolonged until the fifth week of host-exposure. These differences between the oviposition strategies adopted byP. omnivorus against each host type have implications for its use as a biocontrol agent.

Résumé

Des essais en laboratoire ont été réalisés pour étudier la biologie de l’endoparasitoïde grégairePsychophagus omnivorus (Hym.:Pteromalidae) sur les pupes de 3 espèces de ravageurs;Chrysodeixis chalcites, Spodoptera exigua etLacanobia oleracea (Lep.:Noctuidae). Ces essais montrent que l’endoparasitoïde peut pondre dans chacun de ces hôtes potentiels. Dans tous les cas, la fécondité est élevée et le renouvellement des générations rapide; un minimum de 10 descendants femelles est produit par chaque femelle deP. omnivorus toutes les 3,5 semaines. Les caractéristiques de l’attaque de l’hôte ainsi que la taille de la ponte varient en fonction du type d’hôte disponible. Les pupes deC. chalcites etL. oleracea, sont attaquées à un taux modéré, mais chaque hôte attaqué comporte un nombre important de parasitoïdes. Inversement, chaqueS. exigua hôte comporte une ponte plus faible, mais le taux de parasitisme pour cette espèce est plus élevé. LorsqueP. omnivorus rencontreC. chalcites ouL. oleracea, la plupart des attaques contre l’hôte ont lieu dans les 10 premiers jours de la vie imaginale du parasitoïde. Cependant lorsqueP. omnivorus est mis en présence deS. exigua, la période de ponte se prolonge jusqu’a la cinquième semaine d’exposition à l’hôte. Ces différences observées entre les stratégies de ponte adoptées parP. omnivorus en fonction du type d’hôte ont des implications dans son utilisation en tant qu’agent de lutte biologique.

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  1. Central Science Laboratory, Y04 1LZ, Sand Hutton, York, UK

    H. J. Mosson, G. C. Marris & J. P. Edwards

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Mosson, H.J., Marris, G.C. & Edwards, J.P. The comparative biology of the pupal endoparasitoidPsychophagus omnivorus (Hym.:Pteromalidae) on three candidate lepidopteran hosts. BioControl 42, 367–376 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02769830

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