Composition of cuticular lipids in the pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus is host dependent

The insect cuticle is covered by a thin layer of hydrocarbons not only preventing desiccation but also playing an important role in the sexual communication of several species. In the pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus, a parasitoid of grain infesting beetles, female cuticular hydrocarbons (C...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of entomological research 2012-10, Vol.102 (5), p.610-617
Main Authors: Kühbandner, S., Hacker, K., Niedermayer, S., Steidle, J.L.M., Ruther, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Coleoptera - parasitology
Desiccation
Entomology
Female
Females
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gas chromatography
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons - metabolism
Hymenoptera
Insecta
Insects
Invertebrates
Lariophagus distinguendus
Larva - physiology
Lipid Metabolism
Lipids
Male
Mass spectrometry
Pheromones
Pupa - physiology
Sex Attractants - metabolism
Sitophilus granarius
Statistical analysis
Stegobium paniceum
Wasps - growth & development
Wasps - physiology
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Summary:The insect cuticle is covered by a thin layer of hydrocarbons not only preventing desiccation but also playing an important role in the sexual communication of several species. In the pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus, a parasitoid of grain infesting beetles, female cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) elicit male courtship behaviour. We analyzed the CHC profiles of male and female L. distinguendus wasps reared on different beetle hosts by coupled gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Statistical analysis of the data revealed significant differences between strains reared on different hosts, while spatially isolated strains reared on the same host produced similar profiles. CHC profiles of parasitoids reared on Stegobium paniceum were statistically distinguishable from those of wasps reared on all other hosts. A host shift from Sitophilus granarius to S. paniceum resulted in distinguishable CHC profiles of L. distinguendus females after only one generation. Considering the role of CHCs as contact sex pheromones, our data suggest that host shifts in parasitic wasps might lead to reproductive isolation of host races due to the modification of the cuticular semiochemistry.
ISSN:0007-4853
1475-2670
DOI:10.1017/S000748531200017X