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Evaluation of factors influencing host-finding behavior by pteromalid wasps
Abstract
An evaluation of several factors that influence the host finding behavior of pteromalid wasps was conducted using five species of pteromalid wasps. Comparisons between wild and laboratory strains of Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner, M. raptor Girault & Sanders and Urolepis rufipes (Ashmead) indicated length of time in colony may adversely affect or enhance their reproductive potential. Highest intrinsic rates of increase were produced by M. raptor wild (0.215) and laboratory (0.186) strains, followed by M. zaraptor wild (0.184) and laboratory (0.161) strains and U. rufipes laboratory (0.137) and wild (0.025) strains. Changes in life table statistics indicated a gradual deterioration of parasitoid fitness by some species may possibly reduce their effectiveness as biocontrol agents. Temperature preference studies involving three temperatures (20, 25 and 30$\sp\circ$C) indicated that M. zaraptor appeared to prefer 30$\sp\circ$C, M. raptor preferred 25 and 30$\sp\circ$C, U. rufipes and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) preferred 25$\sp\circ$C. P. vindemiae had the highest parasitoid emergence at 20$\sp\circ$C. Length of photophase (6, 12 or 18 h) did not significantly affect parasitoid behavior for any species. M. zaraptor, P. vindemiae and Spalangia nigroaenea Curtis were capable of utilizing freeze-killed house fly and freeze-killed stable fly pupae as hosts, but all three species appeared to prefer house fly pupae to stable fly pupae; parasitoid emergence from house fly pupae comprised 75, 58 and 90% of the total parasitoid emergence when both hosts were exposed to the parasitoids, respectively. M. zaraptor produced significantly more females on house fly pupae (ca. 60%) than on stable fly pupae (ca. 47%). Olfactometer studies indicated S. nigroaenea was attracted to host habitat odors emanating from silage, haylage, fresh manure, old manure and straw bedding, and host odors of stable fly pupae. P. vindemiae was attracted only to host odors from house fly and stable fly pupae. M. zaraptor was only attracted to haylage and old manure odors.
Subject Area
Entomology
Recommended Citation
Pawson, Barry M, "Evaluation of factors influencing host-finding behavior by pteromalid wasps" (1989). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9013620.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9013620