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Tradeoff Between Longevity and Fecundity in Relation to Host Availability in a Thelytokous Oophagous Parasitoid, Trichogramma brasiliensis Ashmead (Trichogrammatidae: Hymenoptera)

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Abstract

The biological hypothesis that female parasitoids can adjust their fecundity schedule according to host availability, and tradeoff longevity with fecundity was tested in a thelytokous oophagous parasitoid, Trichogramma brasiliensis Ashmead (Trichogrammatidae: Hymenoptera) parasitising the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The tradeoff between early and late reproduction revealed that this wasp was able to exploit practically all available hosts during the first day or first few days of adult life. During spells of host unavailability, it was able to adjust its fecundity schedule accordingly. There was a negative relationship between survival and reproduction. Adult females survived shorter (10 days) when an unlimited supply of hosts was present, but longer (16 days) when no hosts were provided. These observations suggest the potential suitability of T. brasiliensis for inundative releases even in conditions of fluctuating host availability.

Résumé

L’hypothèse selon laquelle les femelles parasitoïdes peuvent ajuster leur fécondité en fonction de la disponibilité des hôtes, et adapter leur longévité à leur fécondité a été testée chez un parasitoïde thélytoque oophage, Trichogramma brasiliensis Ashmead (Trichogrammatidae: Hymenoptera), parasitant la pyrale du riz, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Le choix entre une reproduction précoce ou tardive indique que cette guêpe est capable d’exploiter pratiquement tous les hôtes disponibles pendant le premier ou les premiers jours de sa vie adulte. En l’absence d’hôtes, elle est capable d’ajuster sa fécondité en conséquence. Il y a une relation négative entre la survie et la reproduction. Les femelles adultes vivent moins longtemps (10 jours) lorsque les hôtes sont en nombre illimité et plus longtemps (16 jours) en l’absence d’hôtes. Ces observations suggèrent que T. brasiliensis est adapté à des lâchers inondatifs même lorsque la disponibilité des hôtes est variable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India

    S. Manickavasagam

  2. Biotech International Ltd., Bangalore, India

    B. Ramesh

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  1. B. Ramesh
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  2. S. Manickavasagam
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Correspondence to S. Manickavasagam.

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Ramesh, B., Manickavasagam, S. Tradeoff Between Longevity and Fecundity in Relation to Host Availability in a Thelytokous Oophagous Parasitoid, Trichogramma brasiliensis Ashmead (Trichogrammatidae: Hymenoptera). Int J Trop Insect Sci 23, 207–210 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400023602

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400023602

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