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Oviposition Experience by the Larval Parasitoid, Cotesia kariyai, on Nonhost, Spodoptera litura, Can Deter Subsequent Attacks

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Abstract

Some parasitoids oviposit in nonhosts. Parasitization of nonhosts potentially wastes gametes, risks the death of offspring, and reduces fitness. Associative learning, a strategy for efficient reproduction, has been observed in various parasitoid species. We conducted two types of experiments to reveal whether larval parasitoid wasps, Cotesia kariyai (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), learn associatively by ovipositing in nonhosts. In dissection experiments, we found wasp eggs in both host [Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] and nonhost [Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] caterpillars. However, the mean number of eggs in nonhosts was significantly smaller than in hosts. In oviposition experiments, most naive C. kariyai females attacked both hosts and nonhosts. On the other hand, wasps that had previously attacked nonhosts tended to avoid them thereafter. We conclude that C. kariyai females may be able to detect and identify nonhost metabolites and/or cuticular hydrocarbons. Negative associative learning enhances C. kariyai reproductive success when hunting in complex host habitats.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Profs. Hiroshi Honda and DeMar Taylor, and Drs. Seiichi Furukawa, Shigeru Matsuyama, and Natsuko Kinoshita for giving us valuable counsel. We are grateful to all members of the Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Zoology, University of Tsukuba for helping with this study.

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  1. Fumika K. Aikawa

    Present address: Fukushima Prefectural Soso Agriculture and Forestry Office, 1-30, Nishiki-cho, Haramachi-ku, Minamisoma, Fukushima, 975-0031, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan

    Fumika K. Aikawa

  2. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan

    Kazumu Kuramitsu & Yooichi Kainoh

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  1. Fumika K. Aikawa
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  2. Kazumu Kuramitsu
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Correspondence to Yooichi Kainoh.

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Supplementary Material

Female parasitoid wasps (Cotesia kariyai) consistently oviposit more eggs per attack upon host (Mythimna separata) larvae than upon nonhost (Spodoptera litura) larvae, and attacks in which few eggs (0–2) were deposited occurred nearly 3 times more often in S. litura. The frequency distribution of C. kariyai eggs found by dissecting (a) M. separata and (b) S. litura larvae that had been attacked once. (PPTX 351 kb)

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Aikawa, F.K., Kuramitsu, K. & Kainoh, Y. Oviposition Experience by the Larval Parasitoid, Cotesia kariyai, on Nonhost, Spodoptera litura, Can Deter Subsequent Attacks. J Insect Behav 33, 91–96 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-020-09749-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-020-09749-7

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