Skip to main content
Log in

The native hyperparasitoid complex of the invasive aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in Benin, West Africa

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A 2-year study in a vegetable-growing area (Tori, Hla Avamé) in Benin has shown that the invasive aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) was attacked by three species of native hyperparasitoids. On several occasions, hyperparasitoids emerged from more than 90% of the mummies collected. The dominating hyperparasitoid was Syrphophagus africanus (Gahan). Two species in the genera Pachyneuron (Pteromalidae) and Aphanogmus (Ceraphronidae), respectively, were also recorded as hyperparasitoids. Charipinae hyperparasitoids were lacking. The only aphid host present at Hla Avamé was Aphis gossypii Glover, a dominating species in vegetable agroecosystems in Benin.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brodeur J. (2000) Host specificity and trophic relationships of hyperparasitoids, pp. 163–183. In Parasitoid Population Biology (edited by M. E. Hochberg and A. R. Ives). Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodeur J. and Rosenheim J. A. (2000) Intraguild interactions in aphid parasitoids. Entomología Experimentalis et Applicata 97, 93–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell J. A. and Stufkens M. J. (1990) The impact of Aphidius rhopalosiphum (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) on populations of the rose grain aphid (Metopolophium dirhodum) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on cereals in Canterbury, New Zealand. Bulletin of Entomological Research 80, 377–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganyo K. K., Tounou A. K., Agboton C., Dannon E. A., Pittendrigh B. R. and Tamò M. (2012) Interactions between the aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) and its hyperparasitoid Syrphophagus africanus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 32, 45–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hougardy E. and Mills N. J. (2009) Factors influencing the abundance of Trioxys pallidus, a successful introduced biological control agent of walnut aphid in California. Biological Control 48, 22–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanuck M. J. and Sullivan D. J. (1992) Ovipositional behavior and larval development of Aphidencyrtus aphidivorus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an aphid hyperparasitoid. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 100, 527–532.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noyes J. S. (2011) Universal Chalcidoidea Database. World Wide Web electronic publication. Available at: https://doi.org/www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/chalcidoids (accessed 11 January 2012).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragsdale D. W., Landis D. A., Brodeur J., Heimpel G. E. and Desneux N. (2011) Ecology and management of the soybean aphid in North America. Annual Review of Entomology 56, 375–399.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders D. and van Veen E J. F. (2010) The impact of an ant-aphid mutualism on the functional composition of the secondary parasitoid community. Ecological Entomology 35, 704–710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saethre M.-G., Godonou I., Hofsvang T, Tepa-Yotto G. T. and James B. (2011) Aphids and their natural enemies in vegetable agroecosystems in Benin. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 31, 103–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schellhorn N. A., Kuhman T. R., Olson A. C. and Ives A. R. (2002) Competition between native and introduced parasitoids of aphids: nontarget effects and biological control. Ecology 83, 2745–2757.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schooler S. S., De Barro P. and Ives A. R. (2011) The potential for hyperparasitism to compromise biological control: why don’t hyperparasitoids drive their primary parasitoid hosts extinct? Biological Control 58, 167–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Starý P. (1988) Aphelinidae, pp. 185–188. In Aphids: Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control Volume B (edited by A. K. Minks and P. Harrewijn). Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Starý P., Lumbierres B. and Pons X. (2004) Opportunistic changes in the host range of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cr.), an exotic aphid parasitoid expanding in the Iberian Peninsula. Journal of Pest Science 77, 139–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan D. J. and Völkl W. (1999) Hyperparasitism: multitrophic ecology and behaviour. Annual Review of Entomology 44, 291–315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tepa-Yotto T. G. (2013) Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) in Benin: its potential as a biological control agent for integrated aphid management in vegetable systems. Thesis number 2013: 41. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), As, Norway.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Hofsvang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hofsvang, T., Godonou, I., Tepa-Yotto, G.T. et al. The native hyperparasitoid complex of the invasive aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in Benin, West Africa. Int J Trop Insect Sci 34, 9–13 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758413000428

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758413000428

Key words

Navigation