Abstract
The parasite Aphelinus asychisWalker (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) oviposits in all four instars of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum(Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Searching females display a highly stereotyped sequence of behaviors when encountering a host. Once recognized, an aphid is examined and probed by the wasp with the everted ovipositor prior to oviposition. Oviposition success is influenced by aphid behavior that is related to aphid size and expressed through instarspecific escape and defense reactions. Being smaller and less able to defend themselves, first and early-second instars of pea aphid are more susceptible to successful parasitism than third and fourth instars, in that order. Observed patterns of preference by Aphelinus females for particular aphid species and instars reflect the outcome of behavioral interactions between the hosts and the parasites, rather than preference in the strict sense.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bai, B., and Mackauer, M. (1990). Oviposition and host-feeding patterns inAphelinus asychis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) at different aphid densities.Ecol. Entomol. 15: 9–16.
Boyle, H., and Barrows, E. M. (1978). Oviposition and host feeding behavior ofAphelinus asychis (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) onSchizaphis graminum (Homoptera: Aphididae) and some reactions of aphids to this parasite.Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 80: 441–455.
Campbell, A. (1974).Seasonal Changes in Abundance of the Pea Aphid and Its Associated Parasites in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Ph.D. thesis, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C.
Carver, M., and Woolcock, L. T. (1985). Interactions betweenAcyrthosiphon kondoi [Homoptera: Aphidoidea] andAphelinus asychis [Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea] and other parasites and hosts.Entomophaga 30: 193–198.
Cate, R. H., Eikenbary, R. D., and Morrison, R. D. (1977). Preference for and effect of greenbug parasitism and feeding byAphelinus asychis.Environ. Entomol. 6: 547–550.
Clausen, C. P. (1962).Entomophagous Insects, Hafner, New York.
Hamilton, P. A. (1973). The biology ofAphelinus flavus [Hym. Aphelinidae], a parasite of the sycamore aphidDrepanosiphum platanoides [Hemipt. Aphididae].Entomophaga 18: 449–462.
Hartley, E. E. (1922). Some bionomicsof Aphelinus semiflavus (Howard).Ohio J. Sci. 22: 209–236.
Jackson, H. B., and Eikenbary, R. D. (1971). Bionomics ofAphelinus asychis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) an introduced parasite of the sorghum greenbug.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 64: 81–85.
Jackson, H. B., Rogers, C. E., and Eikenbary, R. D. (1971). Colonization and release ofAphelinus asychis, an imported parasite of the greenbug.J. Econ. Entomol. 64: 1435–1438.
Kambhampati, S., Mackauer, M., and Nair, K. K. (1984). Precocious metamorphosis in the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum, induced by precocene analogue 7-ethoxy-6-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene.Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 1: 147–154.
Klingauf, F., and Sengonca, C. (1970). Koloniebildung von Röhrenblattläusen [Aphididae] unter Feindeinwirkung.Entomophaga 15: 359–377.
Lagace, C. F. (1969). Observations on the biology ofMesidia nigra, a parasite ofIziphya punctata.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 62: 532–536.
Mackauer, M. (1982). Fecundity and host utilization of the aphid parasiteAphelinus semiflavus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) at two host densities.Can. Entomol. 114: 721–726.
Mackauer, M., and Chow, F. J. (1986). Parasites and parasite impact. In McLean, G. D., Garrett, R. G., and Ruesink, W. G. (eds.),Plant Virus Epidemics, Academic Press, Sidney, pp. 95–118.
Nault, L. R., and Montgomery, M. E. (1977). Aphid pheromones. In Harris, K. F., and Maramorosch, K. (eds.),Aphids as Virus Vectors, Academic Press, New York, pp. 527–545.
Raney, H. G., Coles, L. W., Eikenbary, R. D., Morrison, R. D., and Starks, K. J. (1971). Host preference, longevity, developmental period and sex ratioof Aphelinus asychis with three sorghum-fed species of aphids held at controlled temperatures.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 64: 169–176.
Roitberg, B. D., Myers, J. H., and Frazer, B. D. (1979). The influence of predators on the movement of apterous pea aphids between plants.J. Anim. Ecol. 49: 111–122.
Schlinger, E. I., and Hall, J. C. (1959). A synopsis of the biologies of three imported parasites of the spotted alfalfa aphid.J. Econ. Entomol. 52: 154–157.
Sokal, R. R., and Rohlf, F. J. (1981).Biometry, 2nd ed., Freeman, San Francisco.
Viggiani, G. (1984). Bionomics of Aphelinidae.Amu. Rev. Entomol. 29: 257–276.
Wahab, W. A. (1985). Observations on the biology and behaviour ofAphelinus abdominalis Dalm. (Hym., Aphelinidae), a parasite of aphids.Z. Angew. Entomol. 100: 290–296.
Wilbert, H. (1964). Das Ausleseverhalten vonAphelinus semiflavus Howard und die Abwehrreaktionen seiner Wirte.Beitr. Entomol. 14: 159–219.
Wilbert, H. (1967). Mechanische and physiologische Abwehrreaktionen einiger Blattlausarten [Aphididae] gegen Schlupfwespen [Hymenoptera].Entomophaga 12: 127–137.
Zar, J. H. (1984).Biostatistical Analysis, 2nd ed., Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N. J.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gerling, D., Roitberg, B.D. & Mackauer, M. Instar-specific defense of the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum: Influence on oviposition success of the parasiteAphelinus asychis (Hymenoptera: Aphelmidae). J Insect Behav 3, 501–514 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01052014
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01052014