Causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
We investigated the variation in body colour and its thermoregulatory function in Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp of Spodoptera and other free-living lepidopteran larvae. We show that the body colour of adult wasps darkens when cocoons are kept at low te...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
2013-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Entomology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-201304-0011_Causes_of_polymorphic_melanism_and_its_thermoregulatory_function_in_a_parasitoid_wasp_Meteorus_pulchricornis_H.php |
| _version_ | 1818326715616722944 |
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| author | Yosuke ABE Takuma NISHIMURA Kaoru MAETO |
| author_facet | Yosuke ABE Takuma NISHIMURA Kaoru MAETO |
| author_sort | Yosuke ABE |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We investigated the variation in body colour and its thermoregulatory function in Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp of Spodoptera and other free-living lepidopteran larvae. We show that the body colour of adult wasps darkens when cocoons are kept at low temperatures. The range in the variation in colour, however, differs for different parts of the body and among uniparental (thelytokous) strains. This melanism enables these wasps to attain a body temperature in sunshine up to 2°C. Moreover, this small gain in body temperature can markedly increase the flight activity of wasps at low ambient temperatures. We conclude that the variation in body colour that resulted from rearing the cocoons at different temperatures enable the wasps to adapt to changing thermal environments. The ecological significance of the difference in the degree of melanism of the different strains is discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:04:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45eb9d2d8ba24793b5e7317ba0d2b048 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1210-5759 1802-8829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:04:47Z |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj.art-45eb9d2d8ba24793b5e7317ba0d2b0482022-12-21T23:46:59ZengInstitute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of ScienceEuropean Journal of Entomology1210-57591802-88292013-12-01110462763210.14411/eje.2013.085eje-201304-0011Causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)Yosuke ABE0Takuma NISHIMURA1Kaoru MAETOGraduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, JapanGraduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, JapanWe investigated the variation in body colour and its thermoregulatory function in Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp of Spodoptera and other free-living lepidopteran larvae. We show that the body colour of adult wasps darkens when cocoons are kept at low temperatures. The range in the variation in colour, however, differs for different parts of the body and among uniparental (thelytokous) strains. This melanism enables these wasps to attain a body temperature in sunshine up to 2°C. Moreover, this small gain in body temperature can markedly increase the flight activity of wasps at low ambient temperatures. We conclude that the variation in body colour that resulted from rearing the cocoons at different temperatures enable the wasps to adapt to changing thermal environments. The ecological significance of the difference in the degree of melanism of the different strains is discussed.https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-201304-0011_Causes_of_polymorphic_melanism_and_its_thermoregulatory_function_in_a_parasitoid_wasp_Meteorus_pulchricornis_H.phphymenopterabraconidaemeteorus pulchricornisparasitic waspbody colour variationthermal melanism hypothesisreaction normsolar radiationbody temperatureflight activity |
| spellingShingle | Yosuke ABE Takuma NISHIMURA Kaoru MAETO Causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) European Journal of Entomology hymenoptera braconidae meteorus pulchricornis parasitic wasp body colour variation thermal melanism hypothesis reaction norm solar radiation body temperature flight activity |
| title | Causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_full | Causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_fullStr | Causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_short | Causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_sort | causes of polymorphic melanism and its thermoregulatory function in a parasitoid wasp meteorus pulchricornis hymenoptera braconidae |
| topic | hymenoptera braconidae meteorus pulchricornis parasitic wasp body colour variation thermal melanism hypothesis reaction norm solar radiation body temperature flight activity |
| url | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-201304-0011_Causes_of_polymorphic_melanism_and_its_thermoregulatory_function_in_a_parasitoid_wasp_Meteorus_pulchricornis_H.php |
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