Cold storage of Spodoptera litura eggs and Telenomus remus adults for improving mass‐rearing efficiency

Telenomus remus (Nixon) is a dominant egg parasitoid of the destructive agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), and so is used in augmentative biocontrol programs in several countries. An optimized mass-rearing system is essential to produce biological control products in a timely and cost-effective manner. In this study, the photoperiod, host egg:parasitoid ratio, and exposure time were evaluated to identify the optimal rearing conditions for T. remus on the alternative host Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) eggs. Results showed that increasing photoperiod above 12L:12D remarkably improved parasitoid progeny yield and life table parameters. Overlong photoperiods shortened female longevity, but within acceptable limits. There was a significant negative correlation between parasitism rate and host egg:parasitoid ratio under exposure times of 12 and 36 h, but not 24 h. Percentage of female progeny increased significantly along with increasing the host egg:parasitoid ratio. A significant negative relationship between the number of emerged adults per egg and the host egg:parasitoid ratio was observed at an exposure time of 36 h. It was concluded that T. remus may be mass-reared most efficiently on S. litura eggs using a photoperiod of more than 12L:12D, a 14–20:1 host egg:parasitoid ratio, and an exposure time of 24 h. These findings can be used to produce T. remus more efficiently and at lower costs.

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Evaluating the Potential of Using Spodoptera litura Eggs for Mass-Rearing Telenomus remus, a Promising Egg Parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12050384 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 384

Author(s):

Wanbin Chen ◽

Yuyan Li ◽

Mengqing Wang ◽

Jianjun Mao ◽

Lisheng Zhang

Keyword(s):

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Spodoptera Litura ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Egg Parasitoid ◽

Developmental Duration ◽

Thermal Requirements ◽

First Time ◽

And Storage ◽

Telenomus Remus

Although Telenomus remus, a promising parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda, had been successfully reared on the eggs of Corcyra cephalonica in some countries, reports from China have argued that it is infeasible. Notably, studies from China have indicated that Spodoptera litura eggs could be a candidate host. Therefore, to further evaluate the potential of using S. litura eggs as hosts, we compared the development and parasitism of T. remus on the eggs of S. frugiperda and S. litura at temperatures between 20–32 °C. Our results showed that T. remus developed successfully on both host eggs at all of the tested temperatures, and the developmental duration and thermal requirements at each stage were similar between the two host species. The number of parasitized eggs was greater for S. litura than for S. frugiperda. Meanwhile, the emergence rate exceeded 86.6%, and it was significantly higher for S. litura than that for S. frugiperda, except at 29 °C. This study is the first time estimating the thermal requirements of T. remus at each stage. Moreover, we also recorded the morphological characteristics of T. remus at each stage. Our results demonstrate that S. litura eggs are more suitable than S. frugiperda eggs as an alternative host for the mass-rearing of T. remus in China. Understanding the thermal requirements and biological parameters contributes greatly to predicting the generation time and providing a reference for the mass-rearing and storage of the parasitoid.

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Integrative taxonomy and phylogeography of Telenomus remus (Scelionidae), with the first record of natural parasitism of Spodoptera spp. in Brazil

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93510-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ana P. G. S. Wengrat ◽

Aloisio Coelho Junior ◽

Jose R. P. Parra ◽

Tamara A. Takahashi ◽

Luis A. Foerster ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Mitochondrial Gene ◽

First Record ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Classical Biological Control ◽

Egg Parasitoid ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Agricultural Pests ◽

Telenomus Remus ◽

Natural Parasitism

AbstractThe egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) has been investigated for classical and applied biological control of noctuid pests, especially Spodoptera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) species. Although T. remus was introduced into Brazil over three decades ago for classical biological control of S. frugiperda, this wasp has not been recorded as established in corn or soybean crops. We used an integrative approach to identify T. remus, combining a taxonomic key based on the male genitalia with DNA barcoding, using a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene fragment. This is the first report of natural parasitism of T. remus on S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides eggs at two locations in Brazil. We also confirmed that the T. remus lineage in Brazil derives from a strain in Venezuela (originally from Papua New Guinea and introduced into the Americas, Africa, and Asia). The occurrence of T. remus parasitizing S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides eggs in field conditions, not associated with inundative releases, suggests that the species has managed to establish itself in the field in Brazil. This opens possibilities for future biological control programs, since T. remus shows good potential for mass rearing and egg parasitism of important agricultural pests such as Spodoptera species.

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Cold storage and gamma irradiation of Sitotroga cerealella Olivier eggs (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in relation to the success of parasitism by Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-019-0189-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Naglaa F. Abdel-Hameid ◽

I. R. M. Elzoghby ◽

A. L. Mehany ◽

W. A. A. Sayed

Keyword(s):

Gamma Irradiation ◽

Cold Storage ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Egg Parasitoid ◽

Sitotroga Cerealella ◽

Trichogramma Evanescens ◽

Control Programs ◽

Angoumois Grain Moth ◽

Rearing Techniques ◽

The Times

AbstractThe performance of parasitism by the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on eggs of Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was investigated under cold storage and gamma irradiation treatments of the host eggs. Cold storage treatment could improve the parasitoid mass rearing techniques and reduced the costs of biological control programs, while gamma irradiation might be used as a supplementary support at the times of high demand. The suitability of the S. cerealella eggs, stored at – 20 °C for 0.5, 1, or 2 h. as a host for T. evanescens was evaluated. The sensitivity of S. cerealella eggs to gamma irradiation treatments and the acceptability of irradiated eggs for parasitism by T. evanescens females for the parental P and F1 generations were examined. The results revealed that parasitism was drastically reduced more than adult’s emergence and sex-ratio (% of females) after cold storage periods of S. cerealella eggs. Moreover, the parasitism percentages were relatively reduced to (97.1, 96.1, 93.03, and 92.7 %) after irradiating the S. cerealella eggs at 40, 60, 80, and 100 Gy, respectively than the control (97.3% emergence). The percentages of emergence and females’ percent were slightly decreased by gamma irradiation doses, while, equal preferred by the F1 generation of parasitoid that produced from irradiated S. cerealella eggs.

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Quantification and Impact of Cold Storage and Heat Exposure on Mass Rearing Program of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera:Tephritidae) Genetic Sexing Strain

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11110821 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 821

Author(s):

Jia Lin ◽

Hanano Yamada ◽

Ningfeng Lu ◽

Guofu Ao ◽

Weiwei Yuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cold Storage ◽

Heat Exposure ◽

Thermal Exposure ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Bactrocera Dorsalis ◽

Short Term ◽

Genetic Sexing ◽

Emergence Rate ◽

Genetic Sexing Strain ◽

The Impact

Cold storage and heat exposure are crucial components of tephritid fruit fly mass-rearing programs, as they influence the development and fitness traits of produced flies. This work investigated the effects of cold storage on the pupal developmental parameters and quality of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) genetic sexing strain (GSS) adults. Furthermore, the impact of short-term thermal exposure on the fecundity of B. dorsalis (GSS) that also underwent pupal cold storage was examined. Our results show that pupal development time, emergence rate, partial emergence rate, flight ability and fecundity were significantly affected by low temperature and pupal age and their interaction. Pupal cold storage did not pose negative impacts on the mating competition and response to methyl eugenol (ME) in the males. In addition, compared with the adults that were subjected to the same pupal storage protocol (five-day-old pupae stored at 13 °C), adult exposure to 41 °C for 1 h showed significant reparative effects on fecundity. In summary, the cold storage procedure of B. dorsalis (GSS) pupae has the potential to improve the flexibility and efficiency of mass-rearing schedules. Furthermore, short-term thermal exposure showed reparative effects on the fecundity costs induced by pupal cold storage in B. dorsalis (GSS).

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Effects of diapause duration on postdiapause performance of spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) during mass rearing on artificial diet

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n07-028 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 139 (6) ◽

pp. 834-840 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kees van Frankenhuyzen ◽

Peter Ebling ◽

John Dedes ◽

Doug Pitt

Keyword(s):

Cold Storage ◽

Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽

Spruce Budworm ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Storage Duration ◽

Performance Variables ◽

Late Instar ◽

Neonate Larvae ◽

Pupal Mass ◽

Diapause Duration

AbstractThe spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), has an obligatory winter dormancy period that lasts up to 10 months in the field. In the Great Lakes Forestry Centre rearing facility, neonate larvae spin hibernacula in cheesecloth, which is then stored at 2 °C for between 20 and 30 weeks. Although dormancy survival and synchrony of postemergence development are highest when larvae are stored in the cold for 16–35 weeks, it is not known how cold-storage duration affects spruce budworm performance once diapause has been completed. We exposed approximately 9250 second-instar larvae (belonging to three rearing cohorts) to 2 °C for 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, or 37 weeks and monitored various postdiapause performance variables. Increasing cold storage from 16 to 25 weeks or more resulted in small (approximately 10%) increases in dormancy survival and larval development rates (from second instar to pupation), a larger (up to 23%) increase in pupal mass and realized fecundity (number of eggs laid per female), and an increase of at least 25% in late-instar survival (from fifth instar to pupation). The only variable that was negatively affected was the pupal survival, but the decrease was relatively small. Therefore, storing diapausing larvae for at least 25 weeks optimizes postdiapause performance variables that are important for mass-rearing efficiency.

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Paralysis and parasitisation potential of Bracon hebetor on various Lepidopteran hosts

Agricultural Science Digest - A Research Journal ◽

10.18805/ag.d-4605 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 37 (04) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohammad Muslim ◽

M. Shafiq Ansari ◽

Fazil Hasan

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Spodoptera Littoralis ◽

Spodoptera Litura ◽

Artificial Diet ◽

Galleria Mellonella ◽

Plodia Interpunctella ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Corcyra Cephalonica ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Bracon Hebetor

Bracon hebetor is a Lepidopteran parasitoid which is used in IPM program as biological control agents. Corcyra cephalonica is fictitious host for mass rearing of B. hebetor in laboratory, rest hosts reared on their respective hosts i.e. Corcyra cephalonica, Plodia interpunctella, Ephestia kuehniella were reared on wheat flour, Galleria mellonella on its artificial diet, Helicoverpa armigera on chickpea pods, Earias vitella on okra fruits, Spodoptera litura and Spodoptera littoralis on castor leaves. The results of this study showed that the paralysis and parasitisation potential of B. hebetor were found higher on C. cephalonica followed by G. mellonella, E. kuehniella, P. interpunctella while it was shortest on S. litura and S. littoralis.

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Extending the Storage Time of Clanis bilineata tsingtauica (Lepidoptera; Sphingidae) Eggs through Variable-Temperature Cold Storage

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10112820 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2820

Author(s):

Chenxu Zhu ◽

Ming Zhao ◽

Haibo Zhang ◽

Fang Zhang ◽

Yuzhou Du ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cold Storage ◽

Storage Time ◽

Variable Temperature ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Storage Conditions ◽

Control Group ◽

Egg Hatch ◽

Hatch Rate ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Important Pest

Clanis bilineata tsingtauica Mell, 1922 (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae), also known as “Doudan” in China, is an important pest in legume crops. As an edible insect, it is most commonly consumed in Jiangsu, Shandong, and Henan Provinces. Mass rearing requires access to large numbers of eggs. This stage, however, is of short duration and supplies are frequently not sufficient for insect production. Therefore, we identified the cold storage conditions for C. bilineata tsingtauica that can effectively prolong the storage time of the eggs, to make supplies more readily available. We found that when stored at 4 °C, only 7.5% of the eggs hatched after 7 days, while at 10 °C the hatch rate was 78.3%. At 15 °C, the egg hatch rate remained at this same level (77.8% even after 14–20 days). Considering various combinations, we found that optimal egg hatch occurred if eggs were stored at 15 °C for 11 days, and then held at 15–20 °C under dark conditions. Stored as described above, the egg hatch rate was not significantly different from the control group (at 28 °C). These conditions allow for easier mass rearing of C. bilineata tsingtauica by providing a stable supply of eggs.

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Long-Term Mass Rearing Impacts Performance of the Egg Parasitoid Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae)

Journal of Entomological Science ◽

10.18474/0749-8004-55.1.69 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 69 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Natalia Naranjo-Guevara ◽

Luan Alberto Odorizzi dos Santos ◽

Nara Cristina Chiarina Pena Barbosa ◽

Adriana Coletto Morales Corrêa e Castro ◽

Odair Aparecido Fernandes

Keyword(s):

Mass Rearing ◽

Egg Parasitoid ◽

Telenomus Remus

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Cold Storage Effects on Fitness of the Whitefly Parasitoids Encarsia sophia and Eretmocerus hayati

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11070428 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 428

Author(s):

Dawit Kidane ◽

Marco Ferrante ◽

Xiao-Ming Man ◽

Wan-Xue Liu ◽

Fang-Hao Wan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cold Storage ◽

Storage Time ◽

Pupal Stage ◽

Mass Rearing ◽

Biocontrol Agents ◽

Emergence Time ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Encarsia Sophia ◽

Storage Effects ◽

Storage Temperatures

Successful biological control of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci involves the mass rearing of biocontrol agents in large numbers for field release. Cold storage of the biocontrol agents is often necessary to provide a sufficient number of biocontrol agents during an eventual pest outbreak. In this study, the fitness of two whitefly parasitoids Encarsia sophia Girault and Dodd (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Eretmocerus hayati Zolnerowich and Rose (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was evaluated under fluctuating cold storage temperatures. The emergence rate of old pupae of either species was not affected when stored at 12, 10, 8 and 6 °C for 1 week. Cold storage had no effect on the longevity of the emerging adult En. sophia except young pupae stored at 4 °C, while Er. hayati was negatively affected after 2 weeks of storage time at all temperatures. Parasitism by adults emerging from older pupae stored at 12 °C for 1 week was equivalent to the control. Combined with the results for the emergence time, we suggest that the old pupal stage of En. sophia and Er. hayati could be stored at 12 and 10 °C, respectively (transferred every 22 h to 26 ± 1 °C for 2 h), for 1 week, with no or little adverse effect.

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