The Role of Parasitoid Wasps, <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Tick Control
Species of <i>Ixodiphagus</i> (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are parasitoid wasps whose immature forms develop inside ixodid and argasid ticks (Acari: Ixodida). Following oviposition by adult female wasps into the idiosoma of ticks, larvae hatch and start feeding on their internal contents, e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Pathogens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/5/676 |
| _version_ | 1827740466085363712 |
|---|---|
| author | Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos Lucia Oliveira de Macedo Marcos Antônio Bezerra-Santos Gílcia Aparecida de Carvalho Guilherme Gomes Verocai Domenico Otranto |
| author_facet | Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos Lucia Oliveira de Macedo Marcos Antônio Bezerra-Santos Gílcia Aparecida de Carvalho Guilherme Gomes Verocai Domenico Otranto |
| author_sort | Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Species of <i>Ixodiphagus</i> (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are parasitoid wasps whose immature forms develop inside ixodid and argasid ticks (Acari: Ixodida). Following oviposition by adult female wasps into the idiosoma of ticks, larvae hatch and start feeding on their internal contents, eventually emerging as adult wasps from the body of the dead ticks. Species of <i>Ixodiphagus</i> have been reported as parasitoids of 21 species of ticks distributed across 7 genera. There are at least ten species described in the genus, with <i>Ixodiphagus hookeri</i> being the most studied as an agent for biological control of ticks. Although attempts of tick control by means of this parasitoid largely failed, in a small-scale study 150,000 specimens of <i>I. hookeri</i> were released over a 1-year period in a pasture where a small cattle population was kept, resulting in an overall reduction in the number of <i>Amblyomma variegatum</i> ticks per animal. This review discusses current scientific information about <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp., focusing on the role of this parasitoid in the control of ticks. The interactions between these wasps and the ticks’ population are also discussed, focusing on the many biological and logistical challenges, with limitations of this control method for reducing tick populations under natural conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:25:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c96bbd15f96442a951fba0883e042fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:25:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c96bbd15f96442a951fba0883e042fe2023-11-18T02:46:46ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172023-05-0112567610.3390/pathogens12050676The Role of Parasitoid Wasps, <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Tick ControlRafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos0Lucia Oliveira de Macedo1Marcos Antônio Bezerra-Santos2Gílcia Aparecida de Carvalho3Guilherme Gomes Verocai4Domenico Otranto5Laboratory of Parasitology, Federal University of the Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns 55292-270, PE, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology, Federal University of the Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns 55292-270, PE, BrazilDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, 70121 Bari, ItalyLaboratory of Parasitology, Federal University of the Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns 55292-270, PE, BrazilDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, 70121 Bari, ItalySpecies of <i>Ixodiphagus</i> (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are parasitoid wasps whose immature forms develop inside ixodid and argasid ticks (Acari: Ixodida). Following oviposition by adult female wasps into the idiosoma of ticks, larvae hatch and start feeding on their internal contents, eventually emerging as adult wasps from the body of the dead ticks. Species of <i>Ixodiphagus</i> have been reported as parasitoids of 21 species of ticks distributed across 7 genera. There are at least ten species described in the genus, with <i>Ixodiphagus hookeri</i> being the most studied as an agent for biological control of ticks. Although attempts of tick control by means of this parasitoid largely failed, in a small-scale study 150,000 specimens of <i>I. hookeri</i> were released over a 1-year period in a pasture where a small cattle population was kept, resulting in an overall reduction in the number of <i>Amblyomma variegatum</i> ticks per animal. This review discusses current scientific information about <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp., focusing on the role of this parasitoid in the control of ticks. The interactions between these wasps and the ticks’ population are also discussed, focusing on the many biological and logistical challenges, with limitations of this control method for reducing tick populations under natural conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/5/676<i>Ixodiphagus hookeri</i>biological controlixodidargasidvectorshymenopteran |
| spellingShingle | Rafael Antonio Nascimento Ramos Lucia Oliveira de Macedo Marcos Antônio Bezerra-Santos Gílcia Aparecida de Carvalho Guilherme Gomes Verocai Domenico Otranto The Role of Parasitoid Wasps, <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Tick Control Pathogens <i>Ixodiphagus hookeri</i> biological control ixodid argasid vectors hymenopteran |
| title | The Role of Parasitoid Wasps, <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Tick Control |
| title_full | The Role of Parasitoid Wasps, <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Tick Control |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Parasitoid Wasps, <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Tick Control |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Parasitoid Wasps, <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Tick Control |
| title_short | The Role of Parasitoid Wasps, <i>Ixodiphagus</i> spp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Tick Control |
| title_sort | role of parasitoid wasps i ixodiphagus i spp hymenoptera encyrtidae in tick control |
| topic | <i>Ixodiphagus hookeri</i> biological control ixodid argasid vectors hymenopteran |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/5/676 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rafaelantonionascimentoramos theroleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT luciaoliveirademacedo theroleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT marcosantoniobezerrasantos theroleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT gilciaaparecidadecarvalho theroleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT guilhermegomesverocai theroleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT domenicootranto theroleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT rafaelantonionascimentoramos roleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT luciaoliveirademacedo roleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT marcosantoniobezerrasantos roleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT gilciaaparecidadecarvalho roleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT guilhermegomesverocai roleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol AT domenicootranto roleofparasitoidwaspsiixodiphagusispphymenopteraencyrtidaeintickcontrol |