Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Does the Polyphagous Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma platneri Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Display Behavioral Plasticity When Parasitizing Different Hosts?

  • Published:
Journal of Insect Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Trichogramma platneri oviposition behavior on Amorbia cuneana egg masses was investigated under laboratory conditions. No relationship was detected between host surface area, number of edge turning on host eggs, and parasitoid clutch size. It was also observed that females parasitized the egg mass randomly by drilling into the egg mass and parasitizing individual eggs without using stereotypical behaviors to assess individual hosts (i.e. drumming and turning). However, clutch size did change due to ovipositional experience as naïve wasps with little or no ovipositional experience (<6 eggs parasitized), allocated significantly more progeny per host than wasps with longer ovipositional experience (24-h oviposition experience on a single egg mass). Moreover, naïve wasps parasitized significantly more eggs on the outer edge of the egg mass than experienced wasps. We contend that the physical characteristics of A. cuneana eggs and egg masses preclude T. platneri from completely discriminating between individual eggs. However, because T. platneri may be using kairomones from the egg mass, this described oviposition strategy remains effective.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bjorksten TA, Hoffmann AA (1998) Separating the effects of experience, size, egg load, and genotype on host response in Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). J. Insect Behav. 11:129–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner SM, van Lenteren JC (1986) Characterization of the arrestment responses of Trichogramma evanescens. Oecologia 68:265–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heimpel GE, Rosenheim JA (1998) Egg limitation in parasitoids: a review of the evidence and a case study. Biol. Control 11:160–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hohmann CL, Luck RF (2004) Effect of host availability and egg load in Trichogramma platneri Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and its consequences on progeny quality. Brazil. Arch. Bio. Tech. 47:413–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Honda JY, Luck RF (2000) Age and suitability of Amorbia cuneana and Sabulodes aegrotata eggs for Trichogramma platneri. Biol. Control. 18:75–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honda JY, Luck RF (2001) Interactions between host attributes and wasp size: a laboratory evaluation of Trichogramma platneri as an augmentative biological control agent for two avocado pests. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 100:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ikawa T, Suzuki Y (1982) Oviposition experience of gregarious parasitoid, Apanteles glomeratus, influencing her discrimination of host larvae, Pieris rapae crucivora. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 17:119–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson JJ, Federici BA (1982) Artificial diet and rearing procedures for the omnivorous looper. J. Econ. Entomol. 75:295–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Klomp H, Teerink BJ (1962) Host selection and number of eggs per oviposition in the egg parasite Trichogramma embryophagum. Nature. 195:1020–1021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klomp H, Teerink BJ (1967) The significance of oviposition rates in the egg parasite, Trichogramma embryophagum. Arch. Neerl. Zool. 17:350–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones RL, Lewis WJ, Beroza M, Bierl BA, Sparks AN (1973) Host-seeking stimulus (kairomones) for the egg-parasite Trichogramma evanescens. Environ. Entomol. 2:593–596

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Le Ralec A, Wajnberg E (1990) Sensory receptors of the ovipositor of Trichogramma maidis (Hym: Trichogrammatidae). Entomophaga. 35:293–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luck RF, Podoler H, Kfir R (1982) Host selection and egg allocation behavior by Aphytis melinus and A. lingnanensis : comparison of two facultatively gregarious parasitoids. Ecol. Entomol. 7:397–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansfield S, Mills NJ (2002) Host egg characteristics, physiological host range, and parasitism following inundative release of Trichogramma platneri (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in walnut orchards. Envrion. Entomol. 31:723–731

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills NJ, Kuhlmann U (2000) The relationship between egg load and fecundity among Trichogramma parasitoids. Ecol. Entomol. 25:315–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oatman ER, McMurtry JA, Waggonner M, Platner GR, Johnson HG (1983) Parasitization of Amorbia cuneana and Sabulodes aegrotata on avocado in southern California. J. Econ. Entomol. 76:52–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinto JD (1998) Systematics of the North American Species of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Mem. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 22:1–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell JA, Common IFB (1985) Oviposition patterns and egg characteristics of Australian Tortricine moth. Aust. J. Zool. 33:179–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salt G (1937) The sense used by Trichogramma to distinguish between parasitized and unparasitized hosts. P. R. Soc. Ser. B. 122:57–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salt G (1935) Experimental studies in insect parasitism III—Host selection. P. R. Soc. Ser. B. 117:413–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt JM, Smith JJB (1989) Host examination walk and oviposition site selection of Trichogramma minutum: studies on spherical hosts. J. Insect Behav. 2:143–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt JM, Smith JJB (1987a) Measurement of host curvature by the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma minutum, and its effect on host examination and progeny allocation. J. Exp. Biol. 129:151–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt JM, Smith JJB (1987b) The measurement of exposed host volume by the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma minutum and the effects of wasp size. Can. J. Zool. 65:2837–2845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt JM, Smith JJB (1987c) The effect of host spacing on the clutch size and parasitization rate of Trichogramma minutum. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 43:125–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt JM, Smith JJB (1985a) The mechanism by which the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma minutum respond to host cluster. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 39:287–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt JM, Smith JJB (1985b) Host volume measurement by the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma minutum: the roles of curvature and surface area. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 39:213–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki Y, Tsujt H, Sasakawa M (1984) Sex allocation and effects of superparasitism on secondary sex ratio in the gregarious parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis. Anim. Behav. 32:478–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SPSS Inc (1999) SPSS Base 10.0 for Windows User’s Guide. SPSS Inc, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Waage JK, Ng SM (1984) The reproductive strategy of a parasitic wasp I. Optimal progeny and sex allocation in Trichogramma evanescens. J. Anim. Ecol. 53:401–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1999) Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Rincon-Vitova Insectaries (Ventura, CA) for providing T. platneri, Max Badgely for providing the A. cuneana egg mass photograph, and Dave Machlitt for providing us with the Amorbia larvae to initiate cultures. We are grateful to Drs. Shannon Bros and Michael Kutilek for their insightful comments. We also thank Berry Smith (University of Toronto) and Josephine Jose for their helpful input, and many thanks to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments. Financial support was provided by the Pisano Research Fellowship from the Biological Sciences Department of San Jose State University. This study was performed in partial fulfillment of the Master’s degree to ZN.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Math, Science and Engineering Division, Antelope Valley College, 3041 West Avenue K, Lancaster, CA, 93536, USA

    Zia Nisani

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA, 95192-0100, USA

    Jeffery Y. Honda

Authors
  1. Zia Nisani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffery Y. Honda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zia Nisani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nisani, Z., Honda, J.Y. Does the Polyphagous Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma platneri Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Display Behavioral Plasticity When Parasitizing Different Hosts?. J Insect Behav 23, 81–89 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-009-9197-9

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-009-9197-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation