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1 September 2011 Differing Success of Defense Strategies in Two Parasitoid Wasps in Protecting their Pupae Against a Secondary Hyperparasitoid
Jeffrey A. Harvey, Rieta Gols, Toshiharu Tanaka
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Abstract

During their larval development, endoparasitoids are known to dispose of host resources in several different ways. Some parasitoid wasps consume most or all tissues of the host, whereas others consume a small fraction of host resources and either ensure that the host moves away from the pupation site or allow the host to remain close to the parasitoid cocoon(s). Using a single host species, Mythimna separata Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), this study compares the success of the two pupation strategies in the solitary parasitoids Microplitis sp. and Meteorus pulchricornis Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) against attack from a secondary hyperparasitoid, Gelis agilis F. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). The caudal appendages of M. separata caterpillars parasitized by Microplitis sp. remain physically attached to parasitoid cocoons and the caterpillars behave aggressively when disturbed. However, after Me. pulchricornis larvae emerge from caterpillars of their host, M. separata, the parasitoid larvae pupate in cocoons that are suspended by a single thick thread that hangs 1–2 cm from under a leaf. In choice tests conducted in petri dishes, significantly fewer cocoons of Microplitis sp. attended by caterpillars than unattended cocoons were hyperparasitized by G. agilis. By contrast, Me. pulchricornis cocoons that were hanging from corn, Zea mays L., plants were hyperparasitized as frequently as those which were attached to leaves. We discuss the potentially different selection pressures generated among natural enemies such as predators and hyperparasitoids in determining optimal pupal defense strategies in primary parasitoids.

© 2011 Entomological Society of America
Jeffrey A. Harvey, Rieta Gols, and Toshiharu Tanaka "Differing Success of Defense Strategies in Two Parasitoid Wasps in Protecting their Pupae Against a Secondary Hyperparasitoid," Annals of the Entomological Society of America 104(5), 1005-1011, (1 September 2011). https://doi.org/10.1603/AN10192
Received: 8 December 2010; Accepted: 5 June 2011; Published: 1 September 2011
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KEYWORDS
brood guarding
Gelis agilis
host manipulation
Meteorus pulchricornis
Microplitis sp
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