Avoidance of parasitized host by female wasps of Aphidius gifuensis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): The role of natal rearing effects and host availability?

Abstract

Natal rearing experience of animals may affect their behaviors, such as habitat selection and oviposition decision. As part of the overall fitness of insect parasitoids, successful host discrimination (distinguishing parasitized hosts from unparasitized hosts) is of paramount importance. In this study we examined whether and how parasitoids' natal rearing experience would affect their host discrimination ability according to host availability. We established separate colonies of Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead by continual rearing on two hosts, Sitobion avenae F. and Myzus persicae (Suzler), and quantified self superparasitism and self superparasitism versus parasitism ratio for the four combinations of parasitoid colonies and host species (S. aveane and M. persicae) at four host densities (30, 50, 100 or 150 per plant). Results showed that self superparasitism of M. persicae by A. gifuensis reared on S. avenae was significantly higher than by those reared on M. persicae, no matter whether the host densities were 30, 50, 100 or 150. Aphidius gifuensis reared on M. persicae significantly superparasitized more S. avenae than those reared on S. aveane only when host density was 30. Self superparasitism versus parasitism ratio of A. gifuensis from both colonies was always lower on natal hosts than on new hosts, and the difference was more pronounced as the host density decreased. These results suggested that natal rearing effects is important on host discrimination and oviposition decision of the parasitoid A. gifuensis. These effects promoted the parasitoid's host adaptation and made them confer greater fitness.

Chromosome‐level genome assembly of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius gifuensis using Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Hi‐C technology

“…In China, this wasp has been widely bred and used as a biocontrol agent for more than four decades to control the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae , a severe pest on vegetables and tobaccos (Li et al, 2018; Yang et al, 2011). The life history, physiological characteristics, parasitic ability and breeding technology of A. gifuensis have been extensively studied to improve its captive breeding behaviour and aphid control efficiency (Khan et al, 2016; Li et al, 2013; Pan et al, 2018; Yang et al, 2009). For instance, using comparative transcriptome and proteome analysis, Zhang et al (2018) identified genes associated with diapause behaviour.…”

Genome-Wide Identification of Neuropeptides and Their Receptors in an Aphid Endoparasitoid Wasp, Aphidius gifuensi

“…In previous studies, A. gifuensis showed higher parasitoid preference and suitability on its maternal host aphids than other aphid species [30]. Natal rearing experience affects the host discrimination and oviposition decision of A. gifuensis [36]. Due to the importance of neuropeptides and their receptors in the modulation of insect behavior, all of these results indicated that neuropeptides and their receptors in A. gifuensis may play a critical role in the odor perception and successful parasitism.…”

“…A. gifuensis female is able to discriminate the plant volatiles that released from healthy, mechanically damaged or aphid infested plant [35]. Furthermore, when provided with various aphid species, the A. gifuensis female can adjust its parasitic strategy by laying fewer eggs in maternal aphid species and more eggs in other aphid species [30,36]. Interestingly, both virgin and mated A. gifuensis females show high preference of aphid alarm pheromone, E-(β)-farnesene [37].…”

The Fitness of Mass Rearing Food on the Establishment of Chrysopa pallens in a Banker Plant System under Fluctuating Temperature Conditions

“…Mass rearing of BCAs on alternative foods may reduce their performance during the rearing period or after release upon encountering the target prey in the field [80]. Researchers have demonstrated that the natal rearing experience of parasitoids may affect their behavioral and physiological characteristics [80][81][82][83]. Ghaemmaghami et al [84] found that laboratory mass-reared colonies of T. brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) declined in quality after 15 generations.…”