Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)
Egg activation is a cellular transition of an arrested mature oocyte into a developing embryo through a coordinated series of events. Previous studies in Hymenoptera have indicated that mechanical pressure can induce egg activation. In this study, we developed the first egg activation protocol for t...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/931 |
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| author | Elmarie van der Merwe Bernard Slippers Gudrun Dittrich-Schröder |
| author_facet | Elmarie van der Merwe Bernard Slippers Gudrun Dittrich-Schröder |
| author_sort | Elmarie van der Merwe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Egg activation is a cellular transition of an arrested mature oocyte into a developing embryo through a coordinated series of events. Previous studies in Hymenoptera have indicated that mechanical pressure can induce egg activation. In this study, we developed the first egg activation protocol for the haplodiploid insect pest, <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), from two climatically different regions in South Africa to demonstrate the broad applicability of the method. In addition, activated eggs were exposed to three treatments involving water, pine sawdust, and the fungal symbiont of <i>S. noctilio</i>, <i>Amylostereum areolatum</i> (Russulales: Amylostereaceae), to determine if the symbiotic fungus is a requirement for egg development in an artificial laboratory environment, as the symbiotic fungus has been hypothesised to be necessary for egg and early larval development in a natural environment. A rearing protocol was developed for the first instar larvae using a modified <i>Anoplophora glabripennis</i> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) artificial diet. A significant difference between the mean survival rates of activated eggs from the two different regions was observed. <i>Amylostereum areolatum</i> was shown to be unnecessary for egg survival and adversely affected egg eclosion in an artificial laboratory environment. The maximum larval survival duration on the artificial diet was 92 days. The egg activation and rearing protocol developed in this study enables opportunities for research on the physiology, ecology, symbioses, and genetics of <i>S. noctilio</i>, which can be exploited for new genetic pest management strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:39:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c13ab91d0b04cdfaa846894d5683231 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:39:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c13ab91d0b04cdfaa846894d56832312023-12-22T14:16:15ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-12-01141293110.3390/insects14120931Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)Elmarie van der Merwe0Bernard Slippers1Gudrun Dittrich-Schröder2Department of Zoology and Entomology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaDepartment of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaDepartment of Zoology and Entomology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaEgg activation is a cellular transition of an arrested mature oocyte into a developing embryo through a coordinated series of events. Previous studies in Hymenoptera have indicated that mechanical pressure can induce egg activation. In this study, we developed the first egg activation protocol for the haplodiploid insect pest, <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), from two climatically different regions in South Africa to demonstrate the broad applicability of the method. In addition, activated eggs were exposed to three treatments involving water, pine sawdust, and the fungal symbiont of <i>S. noctilio</i>, <i>Amylostereum areolatum</i> (Russulales: Amylostereaceae), to determine if the symbiotic fungus is a requirement for egg development in an artificial laboratory environment, as the symbiotic fungus has been hypothesised to be necessary for egg and early larval development in a natural environment. A rearing protocol was developed for the first instar larvae using a modified <i>Anoplophora glabripennis</i> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) artificial diet. A significant difference between the mean survival rates of activated eggs from the two different regions was observed. <i>Amylostereum areolatum</i> was shown to be unnecessary for egg survival and adversely affected egg eclosion in an artificial laboratory environment. The maximum larval survival duration on the artificial diet was 92 days. The egg activation and rearing protocol developed in this study enables opportunities for research on the physiology, ecology, symbioses, and genetics of <i>S. noctilio</i>, which can be exploited for new genetic pest management strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/931egg activationmechanical pressure<i>Sirex noctilio</i>Hymenoptera<i>Amylostereum areolatum</i>artificial diet |
| spellingShingle | Elmarie van der Merwe Bernard Slippers Gudrun Dittrich-Schröder Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) Insects egg activation mechanical pressure <i>Sirex noctilio</i> Hymenoptera <i>Amylostereum areolatum</i> artificial diet |
| title | Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) |
| title_full | Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) |
| title_short | Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) |
| title_sort | mechanical egg activation and rearing of first instar larvae of i sirex noctilio i hymenoptera siricidae |
| topic | egg activation mechanical pressure <i>Sirex noctilio</i> Hymenoptera <i>Amylostereum areolatum</i> artificial diet |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/931 |
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