scholarly journals Host acceptance by three native braconid parasitoid species attacking larvae of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Diptera, Tephritidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 33-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Ayala ◽  
Gabriela Pérez-Lachaud ◽  
Jorge Toledo ◽  
Pablo Liedo ◽  
Pablo Montoya

We studied the oviposition and host acceptance behavior of three braconid parasitoid species native to Mexico, Doryctobraconcrawfordi (Viereck), Opiushirtus (Fischer), and Utetesanastrephae (Viereck), with potential to be considered as biocontrol agents against tephritid fruit fly pests in the Neotropics. Third instar larvae of Anastrephaludens (Loew), with and without previous parasitization by conspecifics, were simultaneously offered to females of each species, and the individual behavior was video recorded to construct oviposition flow diagrams. The patterns of foraging and host acceptance were similar in the studied species; all rejected mostly parasitized hosts suggesting that this strategy is common in the guild of larval parasitoids attacking Anastrepha spp. The complete searching and host acceptance process took 2.2 ± 0.1 min (mean ± SE) in D.crawfordi, 1.7 ± 0.1 s in U.anastrephae and 1.5 ± 0.1 s in O.hirtus. Notably, because of toxins injected by parasitoid females during oviposition, the parasitized hosts experienced a transient paralysis of variable duration. Hosts attacked by U.anastrephae remained immobile for the shortest time (12.5 ± 1 min) (mean±SE), followed by D.crawfordi (20.5 ± 3.4 min) and O.hirtus (24.1 ± 2 min). Our data revealed a notable discrimination ability in all three species, and that behavioral differences lay mainly in the time of parasitization and in the duration of paralysis experienced by attacked hosts. This suggest that the three species could be valuable as biocontrol agents, but additional studies are necessary to better understand the advantages and limitations of each one as natural enemies of fruit fly pests.

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 925-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Ayala ◽  
Ana Mabel Martinez ◽  
Isaac Figueroa ◽  
Samuel Pineda ◽  
Mario Miranda ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Amanda Ayala ◽  
Jorge Toledo ◽  
Gabriela Pérez-Lachaud ◽  
Pablo Liedo ◽  
Pablo Montoya

Abstract Knowledge on reproductive strategies and host use in insect parasitoids is fundamental for biological control purposes. Superparasitism and multiparasitism, oviposition in a previously parasitized host by a female of the same or different species, respectively, may impact pest management decisions. Our objective was to determine the occurrence of superparasitism and multiparasitism in three species of native larval−pupal solitary endoparasitoids that attack Anastrepha Shiner species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Neotropical region, and the possible effect on offspring fitness parameters. Doryctobracon crawfordi (Viereck), Utetes anastrephae (Viereck), and Opius hirtus (Fischer) occur in sympatry in Mexico, and are currently under consideration for use as biocontrol agents. Experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions with females acting alone (self-superparasitism), females in groups of the same species (conspecific superparasitism), and females in mixed groups (multiparasitism). Our results showed that self-superparasitism is an uncommon strategy in the three native species and is rare under conditions of intraspecific competition. In the case of multiparasitism, a higher number of immature stages of U. anastrephae was observed, compared to those of D. crawfordi and O. hirtus. However, it is not clear yet if this was due to some adult female trait or to the competitive ability of the larvae. We conclude that most females of the native species studied appeared to avoid superparasitism, specifically when acting alone, suggesting a high discrimination ability, which is probably a result of a close relationship and evolutionary history with Anastrepha hosts.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurilio López-Ortega ◽  
Francisco Díaz-Fleischer ◽  
Jaime C. Piñero ◽  
José René Valdez-Lazalde ◽  
Manuel Hernández-Ortiz ◽  
...  

Over a two–year period, we surveyed natural areas of the Mayan rainforest in Quintana Roo, Mexico. We found 11 species of Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting 25 species of fruits belonging to ten plant families. We report the first records of 10 host plant species of the genus Anastrepha, which include the first report of a plant family (Putranjivaceae) serving as host of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) infesting Drypetes lateriflora (Sw.) Krug and Urb. (Putranjivaceae). Pouteria reticulata (Engl.) Eyma (Sapotaceae) was found, for the first time, to be infested by Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) and by a new undescribed species of Anastrepha. We also report Casimiroa microcarpa Lundell (Rutaceae) as a possible ancestral host for the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), in Central America. The family Sapotaceae was the best-represented host group with three fruit fly species recovered: A. serpentina, an economically-important species, found in eight host plants, and A. hamata and A. sp. (new species). We recorded six species of koinobiont parasitoids: Doryctobracon areolatus Szepligeti, Utetes (Bracanastrepha) anastrephae Viereck, Opius hirtus Fisher, and Doryctobracon zeteki Musebeck, (all Braconidae), and Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brethés) and Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier, (both Figitidae). All these parasitoid species represent at least a new report for their host plants. Of the whole parasitoid community, D. areolatus was the most important parasitoid species with 52.7% of presence in 12 host plant species, parasitizing six fruit fly species. The interaction between fruit flies and their parasitoids with host plants depends on fruit availability, which is crucial for the survival of each of these species. Conserving the landscape of the Mayan rainforest is important not only for species conservation, but also for the maintenance of fruit fly host plants in orchard agroecosystems in southeastern Mexico.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
María B. Aguirre ◽  
Octavio A. Bruzzone ◽  
Serguei V. Triapitsyn ◽  
Hilda Diaz-Soltero ◽  
Stephen D. Hight ◽  
...  

AbstractWhen two or more parasitoid species, particularly candidates for biocontrol, share the same target in the same temporal window, a complex of behaviors can occur among them. We studied the type of interactions (competition and intraguild predation) that existed between the nymphal parasitoids Anagyrus cachamai and A. lapachosus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), two candidate neoclassical biocontrol agents against the Puerto Rican cactus pest mealybug, Hypogeococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The surrogate native congener host in Argentina, the cactus mealybug Hypogeococcus sp., was studied to predict which species should be released; in the case that both should be released, in which order, and their potential impact on host suppression. In the laboratory we conducted experiments where different densities of the host mealybug were exposed to naive females of A. cachamai and A. lapachosus sequentially in both directions. Experiments were analyzed by combining a series of competitive behavioral and functional response models. A fully Bayesian approach was used to select the best explaining models and calculate their parameters. Intraguild predation existed between A. cachamai, the species that had the greatest ability to exploit the resource, and A. lapachosus, the strongest species in the interference competition. The role that intraguild predation played in suppression of Hypogeococcus sp. indicated that a multiple release strategy for the two biocontrol agents would produce better control than a single release; as for the release order, A. lapachosus should be released first.


2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
MF. Souza-Filho ◽  
A. Raga ◽  
JA. Azevedo-Filho ◽  
PC. Strikis ◽  
JA. Guimarães ◽  
...  

This work was carried out in orchards of guava progenies, and loquat and peach cultivars, in Monte Alegre do Sul, SP, Brazil, in 2002 and 2003. Guavas and loquats were bagged and unbagged bi-weekly and weekly, respectively, for assessment of the infestation period. Peach was only bagged weekly. The assays started when the fruits were at the beginning of development, but still green. Ripe fruits were taken to the laboratory and placed individually into plastic cups. McPhail plastic traps containing torula yeast were hung from January 2002 to January 2004 to assess the fruit fly population in each orchard, but only the Ceratitis capitata population is here discussed. Five tephritid species were reared from the fruits: Anastrepha bistrigata Bezzi, A. fraterculus (Wiedemann), A. obliqua (Macquart), A. sororcula Zucchi, and C. capitata, in addition to six lonchaeid species: Neosilba certa (Walker), N. glaberrima (Wiedemann), N. pendula (Bezzi), N. zadolicha McAlpine and Steyskal, Neosilba sp. 4, and Neosilba sp. 10 (both species are in the process of being described by P. C. Strikis), as well as some unidentified Neosilba species. Ten parasitoid species were obtained from fruit fly puparia, of which five were braconids: Asobara anastrephae (Muesebeck), Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), D. brasiliensis (Szépligeti), Opius bellus Gahan, and Utetes anastrephae (Viereck), and five figitids: Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes), Dicerataspis grenadensis Ashmead, Lopheucoila anastrephae (Rhower), Leptopilina boulardi (Barbotin, Carlton and Kelner-Pillaut), and Trybliographa infuscata Diaz, Gallardo and Uchôa. Ceratitis capitata showed a seasonal behavior with population density peaking at the second semester of each year. Anastrepha and Neosilba species remained in the orchards throughout both years.


EDIS ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 2004 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard V. Weems, Jr. ◽  
John B. Heppner ◽  
Thomas R. Fasulo ◽  
James L. Nation

The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), has also been called the Greater Antilliean fruit fly, the guava fruit fly and the Caribfly. It is a near relative of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), and is one of several species of fruit flies which are indigenous to the West Indies and the larvae of which attack several kinds of tropical and subtropical fruits. This document is EENY-196 (originally published as DPI Entomology Circulars 38 and 260), one of a series of Featured Creatures from the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Published: March 2001. EENY196/IN353: Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (ufl.edu)


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. e1008871
Author(s):  
Mel W. Khaw ◽  
Luminita Stevens ◽  
Michael Woodford

In recent studies of humans estimating non-stationary probabilities, estimates appear to be unbiased on average, across the full range of probability values to be estimated. This finding is surprising given that experiments measuring probability estimation in other contexts have often identified conservatism: individuals tend to overestimate low probability events and underestimate high probability events. In other contexts, repulsive biases have also been documented, with individuals producing judgments that tend toward extreme values instead. Using extensive data from a probability estimation task that produces unbiased performance on average, we find substantial biases at the individual level; we document the coexistence of both conservative and repulsive biases in the same experimental context. Individual biases persist despite extensive experience with the task, and are also correlated with other behavioral differences, such as individual variation in response speed and adjustment rates. We conclude that the rich computational demands of our task give rise to a variety of behavioral patterns, and that the apparent unbiasedness of the pooled data is an artifact of the aggregation of heterogeneous biases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Caroppo ◽  
F Castiglioni ◽  
C Campagna ◽  
E M Colpi ◽  
E Piatti ◽  
...  

Abstract Study question Is there any intra-surgical parameter able to predict the outcome of salvage microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) in patients with previous failed TESE? Summary answer Among all the variables under consideration, only the seminiferous tubules (ST) caliber pattern found at high magnification was able to significantly predict the mTESE outcome... What is known already Several studies have demonstrated that no clinical or hormonal parameters are able to predict the outcome of a salvage mTESE performed in patients with previous sperm retrieval failure (SRF). It has been previously demonstrated that a prediction model with the combination of two intra-surgical parameters such as the STs caliber, defined as dilated tubule (DT), slightly dilated tubules (SDT) and not dilated tubules (NDT), and testis histology had an excellent discrimination ability (AUC 0.93) to distinguish between cases with and without the outcome, but such prediction model has not been tested in patients undergoing salvage mTESE. Study design, size, duration A prediction model was built on a dataset of 63 patients, 29–50 years old, undergoing unilateral (15 ) or bilateral (48) salvage mTESE after failed TESE from 2015 through 2019, with a resulting N = 111 testes under consideration. Two models were compared, one with STs and histology as covariates, the other with STs alone: the second model was chosen due to better discrimination... Participants/materials, setting, methods we assessed internal validity with a bootstrapping procedure for a realistic estimate of the performance of the prediction model in similar future patients with NOA undergoing salvage mTESE. We repeated the entire modeling process in 259 samples drawn with replacement from the original sample, and determined the performances (AUC, sensitivity, specificity) of the selected prediction model. Calibration (correspondence between the predicted and observed probabilities) was visually assessed by inspecting the calibration belt... Main results and the role of chance Sperm retrieval was successful in 24 out of 63 patients (38%): age, testis volume and hormonal parameters did not vary among patients with successful sperm retrieval (SSR) or SRF. The prevalent histological pattern was Sertoli cell only syndrome (69.6%), while hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest and hyalinosis were found in 4.5%, 23% and 1.8% of cases. The STs pattern was heterogeneous, with DTs being found only in 23.4% of testes. Sperm were found in 69% of DTs, 29% of SDTs, and 5% of NDTs. The prediction model correctly classified 82.88% of patients and explained the 26.5% variability of the outcome. The STs pattern significantly predicted the mTESE outcome with a sensitivity of 62% and a specificity of 90.2%, PPV 69.2%, NPV 87%. Both SDT (OR 0.105, 95% CI 0.034–0.317, p < 0.0001) and NDT (OR 0.024, 95% CI 0.004–0.128, p < 0.0001) were negatively associated with the chance of retrieving sperm, the resulting prediction equation being Log (SSR)= 0.81 – 2.2 SDT – 3.7 NDT. The model had a clearly useful discrimination (AUC 0.813). The optimism corrected AUC was 0.7977, and the model was well calibrated (p = 1.00) with both the 80% and 95% calibration belts encompassing the bisector over the whole range of the predicted probabilities Limitations, reasons for caution The STs caliber pattern was subjectively evaluated at high magnification (24–36x) by comparing the individual ST appearance with the surrounding ones, however such evaluation was performed by the same experienced urologist with more than 1000 mTESE procedures performed to date. Wider implications of the findings: No clinical data but the STs appearance at high magnification could discriminate between patients with and without chances of SSR. These results reinforce the evidence supporting the superiority of mTESE compared to conventional TESE in retrieving sperm, particularly in lower prognosis patients with NOA such as those with previous SR. Trial registration number Not applicable


Author(s):  
Zhi Liu ◽  
Hai Liu ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Sannyuya Liu

In a private learning environment, each learner's interactions with course contents are treasured clues for educators to understand the individual and collective learning process. To provide educators with evidence-based insights, this chapter intends to adopt sequential analysis method to unfold learning behavioral differences among different groups of students (grade, subject, and registration type) in a university cloud classroom system. Experimental results indicate that sophomores undertake more learning tasks than other grades. There are significant differences in task-related and self-monitoring behaviors between liberal arts and science learners. Registered learners have higher participation levels than non-registered ones. Meanwhile, a user study aiming to analyze students' learning feelings indicates that a fraction of students have dishonest behaviors for achieving a good online performance. Finally, this study discusses behavioral ethical issues emerged in cloud classroom, which deserve the attention of educators for regulating and optimizing the online learning process of students.


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