Abstract
Anselmella malacia is a gall-inducing wasp within the fruits of Syzygium samarangense causing serious damage to the fruit. This study examined the life cycle, fecundity, development time, morphology and behaviors of Anselmella malacia. The longevity of adult parasite varies from 26.10 ± 3.26 to 49.82 ± 13.21 h, depending on food and gender. The development time of A. malacia inside the fruit galls of S. samarangense is about 35–36 days. Each female lays 524.8 ± 86.2 eggs at the base of the host ovule, and can lay eggs in more than one flower. More than one female can lay in one flower. However, the number of adults emerging from a fruit is limited with about 38.7% of eggs might develop to adults on average. Adults of A. malacia exit the damaged fruits, chewing through the gall wall and mesocarp to release. Both genders chew to create tunnels in the gall, but tunnels on the mesocarp are mostly made by females. The numbers of the emerging females outnumber males. Several emerging adults died inside the fruits, and a higher percentage of male mortality inside the fruit than females. This study provides scientific information on the biology of A. malacia, which will be beneficial to control the galler.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank three smallholder farmers, Vo Hai Tam, Nguyen Van Ep, and Nguyen Van Hai, who provided their gardens to conduct experiments.
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This research was supported by the project SPD2021.01.36. Authors thank all who have provided supports.
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Highlights
• Complete life cycles of Anselmella malacia have been determined.
• The fecundity of a couple of males and females and the development stage of their eggs and their offspring in the fruits on host three have been studied.
• The development time and morphology of Anselmella malacia inside and outside the host fruit have been described.
• The behaviors of laying eggs and making tunnels in the fruit gall and mesocarp have been described.
• Total adults who emerged from an infested fruit are limited.
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Oanh, N.T., Bup, N.K. Biological, morphometric and behavioral studies on Anselmella malacia Xiao & Huang, 2006 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a gall inducer on Syzygium samarangense. Int J Trop Insect Sci 43, 73–81 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-022-00918-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-022-00918-z