Life history of the spider parasitoidZatypota percontatoria(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract

The life history of polysphinctine parasitoids is poorly understood. As a result, their effect on their host has not been evaluated. Here, we present the phenology of Zatypota percontatoria, an ectoparasitoid wasp of theridiid spiders, using rich field, semi-field and laboratory investigations of selected life-history parameters. The wasps overwintered as larva attached to the spider abdomen and the imagos of the first generation emerged at the beginning of May. The sex ratio (F/M) of overwintered wasp larvae was 1.4. The wasp spent an average of 6.4 days in the egg stage, 27.67 days in the larval stage and 9.6 days in the pupal stage. Adult longevity was on average 14.34 days. Oviposition occurred on average 8.44 days following maturity. The wasp laid on average 0.35 eggs/day. The total fecundity was on average 7.4 eggs per wasp and decreased with age (data from unmated females). The developmental rate increased with experimental temperature up to 28°C. The lower developmental threshold for pupae was estimated at 6.6°C. The sum of effective temperatures for pupae was estimated at 157.8 degree days. Using daily temperature records from the Czech Republic over the last 41 years, we estimated an average of 3.5 generations of Z. percontatoria per year. Mortality was 48% in semi-field conditions and 23% in the laboratory. The incidence of mortality was highest during egg and larval stages caused by the detachment of eggs or larvae during spider molting, the mortality of the spider-host and egg deposition on the spider prosoma.

The Parasitoid Hyposoter didymator Can Transmit a Broad Host Range Baculovirus in a Two Host System

“…When the female died before the end of the seventh day, a notable decrease in parasitization was observed, with many failing to parasitize a single larva the day prior to their death. The same has been seen in other Ichneumonidae, with productivity gradually declining around the halfway point of their lives until they stopped reproducing shortly before their deaths [55,56]. The transition from pupa to emerged adult was a second critical period in the rearing; the first being the initial parasitization on the first day.…”

Parasites of spiders: Their impacts on host behavior and ecology

“…Female ectoparasitoid wasps lay an egg on the dorsal side of a host, commonly between the cephalothorax and abdomen where the host spider cannot reach (Quicke 2015), but other larval positionings have been observed (Matsumoto & Konishi 2007).The larva develops on the back of an active spider host, feeding on its body fluids. During the first few instars, larval development is slow and can last about a month or more depending on the species and environmental conditions (Matsumoto & Konishi 2007;Korenko et al 2016). Development of the later instars is rapid, and immediately prior to pupation, the larva consumes the entire contents of the spider host and pupates (Fitton et al 1987).…”