Longevity and survival ofLeptocybe invasa(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an invasive gall inducer onEucalyptus, with different diets and temperatures

Abstract

The blue gum chalcid, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), causes galls on Eucalyptus spp. leaf midribs, petioles and stems. Biological aspects need to be studied to assist in developing management strategies and to maintain this insect in the laboratory to rear the parasitoid Selitrichodes neseri Kelly & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) that depends on having a supply of Eucalyptus seedlings infested by L. invasa. We evaluated the longevity and survival of L. invasa individual non reproductive females fed with six different diets (pure honey, 50% honey solution, pure honey plus eucalyptus leaves, eucalyptus leaves, distilled water, or no food) and seven different temperatures (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30 and 34 °C). Leptocybe invasa fed with 50% honey solution and reared at 14 or 18 °C showed the greatest longevity and survival.

Biological traits of Quadrastichus mendeli (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), parasitoid of the eucalyptus gall wasp Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) in Thailand

“…Moreover, studies based on molecular and phylogenetic analyses of L. invasa , genetic differences at the strain level of Rickettsia symbionts, and sex ratio differences suggest separation of Turkish and Chinese lineages, which can therefore be treated as putative species [36]. Besides sex ratio, other biological features of L. invasa have been reported [8, 43, 55]. The results varied considerably with methodologies and experimental condition settings.…”

First record of the <i>Leptocybe invasa</i> Fisher & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Sergipe, Brazil

“…Chemical control, however, should only be performed in very young plantations, preferably with systemic insecticides of low impact on non-target organisms (Aquino;Botto;Loiácono;Pathauer, 2011). On the other hand, chemical control is not widely accepted due to its low efficacy, negative effects on biodiversity and environmental pollution, making this method an unviable option when applied in large areas Dong;Guo;Lu, 2016;Passos;Castro;.…”

The parasitoid Closterocerus chamaeleon has a greater development and survival rate than of its hosts, the Eucalyptus gall wasps Ophelimus eucalypti and Ophelimus maskelli in Sumatra, Indonesia

“…The large body size of the more long‐lived gall wasp species (i.e., L. invasa and the larger Ophelimus spp.) results in individuals with a greater ability to find new hosts as a consequence of their greater flight capacity (de Souza et al, 2018; Protasov, La Salle, et al, 2007), longer oviposition period (Raman & Withers, 2003; Withers, Raman, & Berry, 2000) and a higher number of deposited eggs per female (Huber et al, 2006; Rizzo et al, 2015), leading to a greater capacity to cause damage to Eucalyptus (Borowiec, La Salle, Brancaccio, & Thaon, 2019; Molina‐Mercader et al, 2019). However, it is unknown why O. eucalypti prefers to attack the young leaves which are more numerous in the upper canopy (Ramanagouda, Kumari, Vastrad, Basavanagoud, & Kulkarni, 2010; Withers, 2001) while O. maskelli prefers the mature leaves which are more numerous in the lower canopy (Mendel et al, 2017; Protasov, La Salle, et al, 2007).…”

“…The similarities of O. maskelli adult longevity between treatments with and without energy sources was unexpected because energy sources provided as a food normally enhances the longevity of galls wasps (Withers et al, 2000) and their parasitoids (Huber et al, 2006; Protasov, Blumberg, et al, 2007). The longevity and survival of L. invasa females were greater when the insects were fed with a 50% honey solution and reared at 14 or 18°C, rather than those individuals fed on pure honey, pure honey plus Eucalyptus leaves, Eucalyptus leaves, distilled water, or no food at 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30 and 34°C (de Souza et al, 2018). The competition for food resulting in agglomeration of O. maskelli individuals near the food source (i.e., drops of sugar or aqueous honey solutions placed in the inner surface of the vial) may however have negatively affected the CV, P and F values.…”

“…The longevity and reproduction capacity of Ophelimus spp. and the blue gum chalcid wasp, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Chalcidoidea) are enhanced when adults of these insects utilise energy sources (e.g., nectar) in the field (de Souza et al, 2018; Huber, Mendel, Protasov, & La Salle, 2006). The laboratory colonies of adults of these insects could be supplied with fast‐acting carbohydrate‐rich sources such as honey or sugary solutions as a food source to boost their vigour (de Souza et al, 2018; Rizzo et al, 2015).…”