Host regulation by the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi: the role of teratocytes

Many aphids such as Myzus persicae are major agricultural pest against which sustainable solutions must be developed. In the present study, we evaluated the role of Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an aphid parasitoid, to control M. persicae in bell pepper cultures in greenhouses. Parasitoids were released at one occasion in a greenhouse and M. persicae infested plants were followed before and after parasitoid introduction. We evaluated aphid numbers and parasitism rates at two different controlled temperatures (22°C and 25°C), and we measured diapause levels in released parasitoids. Aphidius ervi showed parasitism rates of 10.9±1.2% and 9.1±1.6%, at 21 and 25°C, respectively. The strain of parasitoids we used was not entering diapause under any temperature condition. Therefore, we suggest that A. ervi can be further investigated as a protection in greenhouse environments in India. More releases may be necessary to achieve a good protection.

Download Full-text

The Role of Semiochemicals in the Avoidance of the Seven-Spot Ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata, by the Aphid Parasitoid, Aphidius ervi

Journal of Chemical Ecology ◽

10.1023/b:joec.0000030266.81665.19 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 1103-1116 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Yoshitaka Nakashima ◽

Michael A. Birkett ◽

Barry J. Pye ◽

John A. Pickett ◽

Wilf Powell

Keyword(s):

Coccinella Septempunctata ◽

Aphidius Ervi ◽

Aphid Parasitoid

Download Full-text

Host recognition and acceptance behaviour in two aphid parasitoid species: Aphidius ervi and Aphidius microlophii (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300032235 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 57-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

F. Pennacchio ◽

M.C. Digilio ◽

E. Tremblay ◽

A. Tranfaglia

Keyword(s):

Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽

Selection Process ◽

Host Choice ◽

Aphid Species ◽

Host Recognition ◽

Aphidius Ervi ◽

Aphid Parasitoid ◽

Host Aphid ◽

Close Range

AbstractThe host preference and acceptance behaviour of populations of Aphidius ervi Haliday and A. microlophii Pennacchio & Tremblay from southern Italy was investigated. In no host-choice conditions, A. ervi females showed significantly higher attack and oviposition rates on the natural host Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) than on the non-host aphid Microlophium carnosum (Buckton)(Homoptera: Aphididae). In contrast, A. microlophii, which specifically parasitizes M. carnosum in the field, attacked both aphid species. However, dissections showed that oviposition of A. microlophii occurred only in a few of the attacked Acyrthosiphon pisum and was significantly less frequent than in M. carnosum. These results were confirmed in experimental host-choice conditions, suggesting that Aphidius microlophii oviposition is possibly regulated by a host haemolymphatic kairomone. Hybrids obtained by crossing A. ervi females with A. microlophii males attacked and oviposited in both aphid species, suggesting that these behavioural events have a strong genetic basis. The oviposition into host or non-host aphids did not elicit an immune defence reaction. The presence of the host's food-plant had no evident close-range effects on parasitoid attack and oviposition in non-host aphids. Aphidius microlophii reared on the non-host aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum produced a significant higher number of mummies after a few generations, suggesting a possible role of larval and early adult conditioning in the host selection process. These results, together with those from previous studies, suggest that Aphidius ervi is best considered as a complex of differentiated populations, characterized by a varying degree of genetic divergence.

Download Full-text

Apparent competition between two species of aphid via the fungal pathogen Erynia neoaphidis and its interaction with the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi

Ecological Entomology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2311.2002.00397.x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 196-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

T. Pope ◽

E. Croxson ◽

J. K. Pell ◽

H. C. J. Godfray ◽

C. B. Müller

Keyword(s):

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Apparent Competition ◽

Aphidius Ervi ◽

Aphid Parasitoid ◽

Erynia Neoaphidis

Download Full-text

Tomato Below Ground–Above Ground Interactions: Trichoderma longibrachiatum Affects the Performance of Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Its Natural Antagonists

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-02-13-0059-r ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (10) ◽

pp. 1249-1256 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Donatella Battaglia ◽

Simone Bossi ◽

Pasquale Cascone ◽

Maria Cristina Digilio ◽

Juliana Duran Prieto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tomato Plant ◽

Integrated Control ◽

Macrosiphum Euphorbiae ◽

Aphidius Ervi ◽

Aphid Parasitoid ◽

Trichoderma Longibrachiatum ◽

Indirect Defenses ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Below Ground ◽

Species Specific

Below ground and above ground plant–insect–microorganism interactions are complex and regulate most of the developmental responses of important crop plants such as tomato. We investigated the influence of root colonization by a nonmycorrhizal plant-growth-promoting fungus on direct and indirect defenses of tomato plant against aphids. The multitrophic system included the plant Solanum lycopersicum (‘San Marzano nano’), the root-associated biocontrol fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum strain MK1, the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae (a tomato pest), the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi, and the aphid predator Macrolophus pygmaeus. Laboratory bioassays were performed to assess the effect of T. longibrachiatum MK1, interacting with the tomato plant, on quantity and quality of volatile organic compounds (VOC) released by tomato plant, aphid development and reproduction, parasitoid behavior, and predator behavior and development. When compared with the uncolonized controls, plants whose roots were colonized by T. longibrachiatum MK1 showed quantitative differences in the release of specific VOC, better aphid population growth indices, a higher attractiveness toward the aphid parasitoid and the aphid predator, and a quicker development of aphid predator. These findings support the development of novel strategies of integrated control of aphid pests. The species-specific or strain-specific characteristics of these below ground–above ground interactions remain to be assessed.

Download Full-text

Venomics of the ectoparasitoid wasp Bracon nigricans

BMC Genomics ◽

10.1186/s12864-019-6396-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrea Becchimanzi ◽

Maddalena Avolio ◽

Hamed Bostan ◽

Chiara Colantuono ◽

Flora Cozzolino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fat Body ◽

Functional Model ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Host Immune Responses ◽

Larval Parasitoid ◽

Parasitic Hymenoptera ◽

Proteomic Study ◽

Main Components ◽

Host Regulation

Abstract Background Venom is one of the most important sources of regulation factors used by parasitic Hymenoptera to redirect host physiology in favour of the developing offspring. This has stimulated a number of studies, both at functional and “omics” level, which, however, are still quite limited for ectophagous parasitoids that permanently paralyze and suppress their victims (i.e., idiobiont parasitoids). Results Here we present a combined transcriptomic and proteomic study of the venom of the generalist idiobiont wasp Bracon nigricans, an ectophagous larval parasitoid of different lepidopteran species, for which we recently described the host regulation strategy and the functional role of the venom in the induction of physiological changes in parasitized hosts. The experimental approach used led to the identification of the main components of B. nigricans venom involved in host regulation. Enzymes degrading lipids, proteins and carbohydrates are likely involved in the mobilization of storage nutrients from the fat body and may concurrently be responsible for the release of neurotoxic fatty acids inducing paralysis, and for the modulation of host immune responses. Conclusion The present work contributes to fill the gap of knowledge on venom composition in ectoparasitoid wasps, and, along with our previous physiological study on this species, provides the foundation on which to develop a functional model of host regulation, based both on physiological and molecular data. This paves the way towards a better understanding of parasitism evolution in the basal lineages of Hymenoptera and to the possible exploitation of venom as source of bioinsecticidal molecules.

Download Full-text

The role of plant chemical cues in determining host preference in the generalist aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata ◽

10.1046/j.1570-7458.2000.00714.x ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 97 (1) ◽

pp. 41-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 99

Author(s):

A. Storeck ◽

G.M. Poppy ◽

H.F. Emden ◽

W. Powell

Keyword(s):

Host Preference ◽

Chemical Cues ◽

Aphid Parasitoid ◽

Aphidius Colemani ◽

Plant Chemical

Download Full-text

CONSPECIFIC SUPERPARASITISM IN TWO PARASITOID WASPS, APHIDIUS ERVI HALIDAY AND APHELINUS ASYCHIS WALKER: REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES INFLUENCE HOST DISCRIMINATION

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent1231229-6 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 123 (6) ◽

pp. 1229-1237 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

B. Bai

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Strategies ◽

Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽

Aphidius Ervi ◽

Parasitoid Wasps ◽

Host Discrimination ◽

Larval Competition ◽

Parasitoid Species ◽

Aphid Parasitoid ◽

Aphelinus Asychis ◽

Physiological Suppression

AbstractConspecific host discrimination and larval competition in two aphid parasitoid species were studied in the laboratory using the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae), as a host. Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) used internal host cues to discriminate between unparasitized and conspecific parasitized hosts. When only parasitized hosts were available, females oviposited into recently parasitized ones where their progeny had a good chance to survive, but rejected those parasitized ≥24 h earlier where their offspring normally died. Competitions occurred only after both eggs had hatched. Larvae eliminated supernumeraries by means of physical combat and physiological suppression. In Aphelinus asychis Walker (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), factors, or changes in host internal condition, associated with hatching of the first egg resulted in suppression of conspecific competitors which could be in either larval or egg stage. The older larvae always won competitions through physiological means. A wasp’s oviposition decision is shown to be influenced by the probability of its progeny’s survival. Species that have different reproductive strategies may respond differently to identical host conditions.

Download Full-text