Life history characteristics of Aphidius transcaspicus, a parasitoid of mealy aphids ( Hyalopterus species)

Aphidius transcaspicus Telenga (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) is a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid that has been selected for use as a biological control agent against the mealy plum aphid Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in prune orchards in California. Using the altern...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological control 2010-08, Vol.54 (2), p.147-152
Main Authors: Latham, Daniel R., Mills, Nicholas J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adult insects
Age
animal age
Aphididae
Aphidius transcaspicus
Aphis fabae
biological control agents
body weight
Braconidae
Development time
eclosion
faba beans
Fecundity
field crops
Hemiptera: Aphididae
host plants
hosts
Hymenoptera
insect development
insect pests
Intrinsic rate of increase
life history
longevity
Parasitoid
parasitoids
plant pests
Sex ratio
Survival
Vicia faba
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Aphidius transcaspicus Telenga (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) is a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid that has been selected for use as a biological control agent against the mealy plum aphid Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in prune orchards in California. Using the alternative host Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on the host plant Vicia faba L., we determined the adult longevity and fecundity, and progeny development time and sex ratio of A. transcaspicus. Mated female parasitoids were given new, individually-enclosed, host-infested bean plants each day of her adult life. Mummified hosts were monitored daily for adult progeny emergence. Adult lifespan of parent females averaged 6.67 ± 0.56 days, and mean lifetime mummy production was 196.1 ± 19.9 per female. There was a significant linear relationship between total mummy production and both adult female weight at eclosion and adult female longevity. Mean development time of progeny was 13.3 ± 0.1 days, and varied significantly with sex and parent female age. Overall, 74% of parasitoid mummies survived to adult eclosion, but survival decreased with parent age. Lifetime sex ratio was 0.53 female, and sex ratios declined with female age. The intrinsic rate of natural increase was estimated to be 0.21, with net reproductive rate of 31.10, and mean generation time of 16.35 days.
ISSN:1049-9644
1090-2112
DOI:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2010.04.011