Effect of host switching simulation on the fitness of the gregarious parasitoid Anaphes flavipes from a novel two-generation approach

Abstract

Herbivorous insects can escape the strong pressure of parasitoids by switching to feeding on new host plants. Parasitoids can adapt to this change but at the cost of changing their preferences and performance. For gregarious parasitoids, fitness changes are not always observable in the F1 generation but only in the F2 generation. Here, with the model species and gregarious parasitoid Anaphes flavipes, we examined fitness changes in the F1 generation under pressure from the simulation of host switching, and by a new two-generation approach, we determined the impact of these changes on fitness in the F2 generation. We showed that the parasitoid preference for host plants depends on hatched or oviposited learning in relation to the possibility of parasitoid decisions between different host plants. Interestingly, we showed that after simulation of parasitoids following host switching, in the new environment of a fictitious host plant, parasitoids reduced the fictitious host. At the same time, parasitoids also reduced fertility because in fictitious hosts, they are not able to complete larval development. However, from a two-generation approach, the distribution of parasitoid offspring into both native and fictitious hosts caused lower parasitoid clutch size in native hosts and higher individual offspring fertility in the F2 generation.

Identification, Microhabitat, and Ecological Niche Prediction of Two Promising Native Parasitoids of Tuta absoluta in Kenya

“…The tomato production system was also recorded as either an open field or greenhouse/screen house production. Additionally, an average number of N. tenuis per kilogram of tomato leaves were estimated and four classes were obtained for this variable 0 = absence of N. tenuis , [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ] = low-level presence of N. tenuis , [ 50 ,…”

“…However, if effective native parasitoids are present in the agroecological system, new associations with the pest may be formed based on multi-level interactions [ 15 ]. When the prey/host population levels are low, parasitoids and predators can switch their host and prey preferences depending on the availability of alternatives [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. The use of natural enemies has several advantages for environmental conservation, especially due to their non-effect on non-target organisms [ 20 , 21 ].…”

Genetic analysis reveals conspecificity of two nominal species of Anaphes fairyflies (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), egg parasitoids of Oulema leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) pests of cereal crops in Europe and of rice in East Asia

“…Various aspects of biology, ecology and parasitism of A. flavipes in Europe were studied by Donev (1987) [27] and Samkova ´et al (2019aSamkova ´et al ( , 2019bSamkova ´et al ( , 2019cSamkova ´et al ( , 2020Samkova ´et al ( , 2021 [3,[28][29][30][31].…”

Parasitism Features of a Fig Wasp of Genus Apocrypta (Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae) Associated with a Host Belonging to Ficus Subgenus Ficus

“…This phenomenon is particularly apparent in the symbiosis between Hymenoptera parasitoids and their hosts, with both parties having evolved highly specific morphological and physiological traits. In this situation, clear differences in parasitism features such as life history traits and parasitism ability might be expected if a parasitoid taxon moves to another host and then colonizes a new niche [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Therefore, a comprehensive search for such a phenomenon and a quantification of the consequences that a species brings to the new system is worthwhile.…”