Host selection behaviour in Mastrus ridens, a gregarious ectoparasitoid of codling moth, Cydia pomonella

Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) (CM) is a major pest of apples in New Zealand. Several biocontrol agents introduced in the past to control CM have only been partially successful at reducing CM populations, so a parasitoid wasp, Mastrus ridens (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), was recently released into apple-growing regions. This study sought evidence of the establishment of CM parasitoids. Corrugated cardboard bands (2-cm wide bands with sentinel CM larvae and 10-cm wide empty bands to trap wild CM larvae) were used to assess the presence of M. ridens and other CM parasitoids in Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Central Otago and Waikato regions. Five CM parasitoid species, including M. ridens, were recovered from sentinel and wide bands. Liotryphon caudatus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, released to control CM in 1906) was found in Hawke’s Bay and Waikato. Ascogaster quadridentata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, released to control CM in the 1930s), Glabridorsum stokesii (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, released in 1967 to control light brown apple moth), Dibrachys microgastri (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae, an accidental arrival) and M. ridens were found in all regions. The interspecific competition between M. ridens and other parasitoid species remains to be investigated.

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Longevity and fecundity of laboratoryreared Liotryphon caudatus an ectoparasitoid of codling moth

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2016.69.5920 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 69 ◽

pp. 318-318

Author(s):

V.A. Davis ◽

W.R.M. Sandanayaka ◽

J.G. Charles

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

New Zealand ◽

Cydia Pomonella ◽

Codling Moth ◽

Ongoing Research ◽

Laboratory Colony ◽

Mastrus Ridens

Liotryphon caudatus was introduced into New Zealand to control codling moth (CM; Cydia pomonella) in the early 1900s As part of ongoing research into the biological control of CM a laboratory colony of L caudatus was established from fieldcollected adults reared on diapausing CM larvae The longevity and fecundity of laboratoryreared L caudatus adults were measured at 231C and 16 h photoperiod Longevity in a nonhost environment was measured by holding a newly emerged female and a male in a container with water and food Survival of 18 pairs was monitored daily The food and water in the containers were refreshed regularly The fecundity and the longevity of females were measured by providing five diapausing CM larvae to each of nine mated females (age 710 days) in a similar container with food and water The CM larvae were replaced every 48 hours until the females were dead In the interactions between L caudatus and Mastrus ridens a recently released gregarious ectoparasitoid of codling moth in applegrowing areas where L caudatus has already established

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Establishment and seasonal activity in New Zealand of Mastrus ridens, a gregarious ectoparasitoid of codling moth Cydia pomonella

BioControl ◽

10.1007/s10526-019-09939-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 291-301 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

John G. Charles ◽

W. R. Manoharie Sandanayaka ◽

James T. S. Walker ◽

Peter W. Shaw ◽

Asha Chhagan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Cydia Pomonella ◽

Codling Moth ◽

Seasonal Activity ◽

Mastrus Ridens

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Colony optimisation of Mastrus ridens (Hymenoptera Ichneumonidae) a potential biological control agent of codling moth in New Zealand

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2011.64.5959 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 64 ◽

pp. 227-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

W.R.M. Sandanayaka ◽

A. Chhagan ◽

N.E.M. Page-Weir ◽

J.G. Charles

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

New Zealand ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Cydia Pomonella ◽

Codling Moth ◽

Classical Biological Control ◽

Control Programme ◽

The Body ◽

Host Feeding ◽

Mastrus Ridens

Mastrus ridens (Horstmann) (Hymenoptera Ichneumonidae) was imported from Argentina into New Zealand as part of a classical biological control programme against codling moth (CM) Cydia pomonella (L) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) A laboratory colony was successfully established and maintained in quarantine and experiments were conducted to understand the biology and behaviour of the parasitoid to maximise its efficiency prior to release Nave females parasitised a maximum of four CM larvae/day laying a total of 12915 eggs However a single CM larva could support the development of a maximum of 10 parasitoids The body sizes of emerging M ridens females in the colony decreased with an increase in the number of pupae developing on a single CM larva because of competition Female M ridens preferred larger CM larvae to smaller larvae in cocoons for oviposition Superparasitism host feeding and the number of CM larvae hosting damaged parasitoid eggs increased with decreasing host/parasitoid ratios

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Interspecific competition between Mastrus ridens and Liotryphon caudatus ectoparasitoids of codling moth Cydia pomonella

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2016.69.5902 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 69 ◽

pp. 310-317

Author(s):

W.R.M. Sandanayaka ◽

V.A. Davis ◽

J.G. Charles

Keyword(s):

Interspecific Competition ◽

Cydia Pomonella ◽

Codling Moth ◽

Natural Ecosystem ◽

Sufficient Time ◽

Parasitoid Species ◽

Mastrus Ridens ◽

Enclosed Space ◽

Eggs And Larvae

Mastrus ridens is a gregarious ectoparasitoid and Liotryphon caudatus is a solitary ectoparasitoid of cocooned codling moth larvae These two parasitoid species could potentially compete for resources because they oviposit and develop on the same lifestage of their host Competition experiments in the laboratory showed that females of both species oviposited into host cocoons regardless of previous parasitism but adults of only one species ever emerged Liotryphon caudatus larvae were highly aggressive They preyed upon eggs and larvae of M ridens as well as conspecifics such that only a single adult L caudatus emerged Mastrus ridens larvae survived competition with L caudatus if they had a sufficient time to develop to a size that could attack L caudatus eggs However L caudatus was often still able to outcompete M ridens even when M ridens eggs were laid first Mastrus ridens hyperparasitised L caudatus larvae that had themselves cocooned within the host cocoon but no parasitoids emerged Liotryphon caudatus outcompeted M ridens in an enclosed space but that ability in a natural ecosystem remains to be investigated

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Effect of temperature on flight initiation in Mastrus ridens

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2014.67.5767 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 67 ◽

pp. 325-325

Author(s):

V.A. Davis ◽

W.R.M Sandanayaka ◽

A. Chhagan ◽

J.G. Charles

Keyword(s):

Cydia Pomonella ◽

Codling Moth ◽

Early Spring ◽

Apple Orchard ◽

Effect Of Temperature ◽

Host Stage ◽

Different Temperatures ◽

Net Cage ◽

Mastrus Ridens ◽

Flight Initiation

Mastrus ridens (Horstmann) (Hymenoptera Ichneumonidae) is a gregarious ectoparasitoid of cocooned larvae of codling moth Cydia pomonella (L) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) This host stage is available for parasitism by M ridens (which is not known to diapause) throughout winter and early spring A study was conducted at ambient field temperatures during this period to investigate the minimum temperature required for flight initiation by M ridens Ten female and 10 male adults (37 days old) from the laboratory were transferred into two containers and placed in an apple orchard for 1 h for temperatures to equilibrate The container was then opened inside a large net cage and the numbers of parasitoids that flew into the cage at different temperatures were recorded The experiment release periods while establishing the parasitoid throughout New Zealand and (2) determine when the females are first active in spring before the codling moth larvae pupate

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Detecting and controlling Serratia marcescens in a laboratory colony of Mastrus ridens

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2015.68.5853 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 68 ◽

pp. 445-445 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

W.R.M. Sandanayaka ◽

V.A. Davis ◽

S.D.G. Marshall ◽

J.G. Charles

Keyword(s):

Serratia Marcescens ◽

Cydia Pomonella ◽

Codling Moth ◽

Common Species ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Laboratory Colony ◽

Classical Biocontrol ◽

Corrugated Cardboard ◽

Mastrus Ridens ◽

Selection Of

Mastrus ridens (Hymenoptera Ichneumonidae) is an ectoparasitoid of cocooning Cydia pomonella (codling moth CM) larvae and has been introduced into New Zealand in a classical biocontrol programme Large numbers of M ridens are currently being reared in the laboratory on diapausing CM larvae for release into applegrowing regions Within the rearing colony a bacterial epizootic was discovered that killed both CM larvae and developing M ridens DNA from infected CM larvae was amplified using bacterial 16s rDNA primers with sequencing identifying the bacterium as Serratia marcescens a common species associated with insects The epizootic probably arose from CM larvae in oviposition cages The rearing method has been modified to minimise the presence of bacteria Mastrus ridens pupae are now removed from the corrugated cardboard rolls (in which they develop on CM larvae) and held in emergence containers that have been sterilised by washing with sodium hypochlorite Any diseased adult M ridens are detected by the red colour of their abdomen and only healthy adults are selected as parents for subsequent generations Improved hygiene and selection of healthy adult parasitoids successfully controlled the S marcescens epizootic

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