Defensive behaviors of the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
This study examined defensive behaviors of Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae varying in body size in response to two parasitoids varying in oviposition behavior; Microplitis mediator females sting the host with the ovipositor after climbing onto it while Meteorus pulchricornis female...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2017-08-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/3690.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797424406947954688 |
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| author | Jincheng Zhou Ling Meng Baoping Li |
| author_facet | Jincheng Zhou Ling Meng Baoping Li |
| author_sort | Jincheng Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined defensive behaviors of Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae varying in body size in response to two parasitoids varying in oviposition behavior; Microplitis mediator females sting the host with the ovipositor after climbing onto it while Meteorus pulchricornis females make the sting by standing at a close distance from the host. Mythimna separata larvae exhibited evasive (escaping and dropping) and aggressive (thrashing) behaviors to defend themselves against parasitoids M. mediator and M. pulchricornis. Escaping and dropping did not change in probability with host body size or parasitoid species. Thrashing did not vary in frequency with host body size, yet performed more frequently in response to M. mediator than to M. pulchricornis. Parasitoid handling time and stinging likelihood varied depending not only on host body size but also on parasitoid species. Parasitoid handling time increased with host thrashing frequency, similar in slope for both parasitoids yet on a higher intercept for M. mediator than for M. pulchricornis. Handling time decreased with host size for M. pulchricornis but not for M. mediator. The likelihood of realizing an ovipositor sting decreased with thrashing frequency of both small and large hosts for M. pulchricornis, while this was true only for large hosts for M. mediator. Our results suggest that the thrashing behavior of M. separata larvae has a defensive effect on parasitism, depending on host body size and parasitoid species with different oviposition behaviors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:01:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b1d83b7ad084bd2a37dd827627d9e92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:01:48Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b1d83b7ad084bd2a37dd827627d9e922023-12-03T00:40:46ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592017-08-015e369010.7717/peerj.3690Defensive behaviors of the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)Jincheng Zhou0Ling Meng1Baoping Li2School of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaSchool of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaSchool of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaThis study examined defensive behaviors of Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae varying in body size in response to two parasitoids varying in oviposition behavior; Microplitis mediator females sting the host with the ovipositor after climbing onto it while Meteorus pulchricornis females make the sting by standing at a close distance from the host. Mythimna separata larvae exhibited evasive (escaping and dropping) and aggressive (thrashing) behaviors to defend themselves against parasitoids M. mediator and M. pulchricornis. Escaping and dropping did not change in probability with host body size or parasitoid species. Thrashing did not vary in frequency with host body size, yet performed more frequently in response to M. mediator than to M. pulchricornis. Parasitoid handling time and stinging likelihood varied depending not only on host body size but also on parasitoid species. Parasitoid handling time increased with host thrashing frequency, similar in slope for both parasitoids yet on a higher intercept for M. mediator than for M. pulchricornis. Handling time decreased with host size for M. pulchricornis but not for M. mediator. The likelihood of realizing an ovipositor sting decreased with thrashing frequency of both small and large hosts for M. pulchricornis, while this was true only for large hosts for M. mediator. Our results suggest that the thrashing behavior of M. separata larvae has a defensive effect on parasitism, depending on host body size and parasitoid species with different oviposition behaviors.https://peerj.com/articles/3690.pdfMeteorus pulchricornisMicroplitis mediatorBraconidaeBehavioral defensesHost defenseCaterpillar |
| spellingShingle | Jincheng Zhou Ling Meng Baoping Li Defensive behaviors of the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) PeerJ Meteorus pulchricornis Microplitis mediator Braconidae Behavioral defenses Host defense Caterpillar |
| title | Defensive behaviors of the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_full | Defensive behaviors of the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_fullStr | Defensive behaviors of the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defensive behaviors of the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_short | Defensive behaviors of the Oriental armyworm Mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) |
| title_sort | defensive behaviors of the oriental armyworm mythimna separata in response to different parasitoid species hymenoptera braconidae |
| topic | Meteorus pulchricornis Microplitis mediator Braconidae Behavioral defenses Host defense Caterpillar |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/3690.pdf |
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