Ecological and physiological adaptations in insect parasitism¹
1966
Hsiao, T. H. (Ting H.) | HOLDAWAY, F.G. | CHIANG, H.C.
Ecological and physiological adaptations of the tachinid parasite Lydella grisescens R-D, to its hosts were studied experimentally. The factors affecting host finding and larviposition of the adult females were evaluated. The frass of four lepidopterous larvae, including two natural hosts, the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Hbn.) and the stalk borer Papaipema nebris (Guen.), and two non-hosts, the armyworm Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) and the cat-tail borer Archanata oblonga Grt., was found to attract the Lydella females and stimulate them to larviposit. The attracting material in frass is soluble in ethanol and water, and seems to be a metabolic product of the caterpillars rather than a product of plant fermentation. Artificial parasitization by implantation of Lydella larvae in the host caterpillars was employed to determine the physiological suitability of various natural and unnatural hosts to the parasite. Along with the two natural hosts, the European corn borer and the stalk borer, an unnatural host, the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella L. was found to be a suitable host. Artificial parasitization was not successful with the armyworm, the imported cabbageworm Pieris rapae L. and the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor L. Lydella larvae were able to penetrate the cuticle of Galleria larvae when they were present together. The biological significance and practical implication of these findings are discussed.
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