The preference of Trichopria drosophilae for pupae of Drosophila suzukii is independent of host size

Abstract Controlling the cosmopolitan pest Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila) is a challenge for fruit growers. A promising agent for biological control of that pest are parasitoid wasps. Especially the widespread pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae had shown the ability to parasitise...

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Main Authors: Benedikt J. M. Häussling, Judith Lienenlüke, Johannes Stökl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2021-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80355-5
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author Benedikt J. M. Häussling
Judith Lienenlüke
Johannes Stökl
author_facet Benedikt J. M. Häussling
Judith Lienenlüke
Johannes Stökl
author_sort Benedikt J. M. Häussling
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Controlling the cosmopolitan pest Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila) is a challenge for fruit growers. A promising agent for biological control of that pest are parasitoid wasps. Especially the widespread pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae had shown the ability to parasitise the pest fly. However, as a biocontrol agent, parasitoids can only be effective when they prefer the pest to other insects. Until now studies have been inconsistent concerning the preference of T. drosophilae for D. suzukii and whether the preference depends on pupal volume. To clarify this inconsistency, we used video recordings of parasitisation experiments with a set up to observe the direct host preference of the parasitoid. Additionally, the volume of each host pupa was measured. We found significant preference of T. drosophilae for D. suzukii pupae independent of the pupal size and of the host species the wasps were reared on. The article also discusses the sex ratio and the success of the parasitoid in the different pupae characteristics.
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spelling doaj.art-a9dafc8c3b07477983e155dfb1673ef22022-12-21T23:37:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-01-0111111010.1038/s41598-020-80355-5The preference of Trichopria drosophilae for pupae of Drosophila suzukii is independent of host sizeBenedikt J. M. Häussling0Judith Lienenlüke1Johannes Stökl2Department of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, Bayreuth UniversityInstitute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig UniversityDepartment of Evolutionary Animal Ecology, Bayreuth UniversityAbstract Controlling the cosmopolitan pest Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila) is a challenge for fruit growers. A promising agent for biological control of that pest are parasitoid wasps. Especially the widespread pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae had shown the ability to parasitise the pest fly. However, as a biocontrol agent, parasitoids can only be effective when they prefer the pest to other insects. Until now studies have been inconsistent concerning the preference of T. drosophilae for D. suzukii and whether the preference depends on pupal volume. To clarify this inconsistency, we used video recordings of parasitisation experiments with a set up to observe the direct host preference of the parasitoid. Additionally, the volume of each host pupa was measured. We found significant preference of T. drosophilae for D. suzukii pupae independent of the pupal size and of the host species the wasps were reared on. The article also discusses the sex ratio and the success of the parasitoid in the different pupae characteristics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80355-5
spellingShingle Benedikt J. M. Häussling
Judith Lienenlüke
Johannes Stökl
The preference of Trichopria drosophilae for pupae of Drosophila suzukii is independent of host size
Scientific Reports
title The preference of Trichopria drosophilae for pupae of Drosophila suzukii is independent of host size
title_full The preference of Trichopria drosophilae for pupae of Drosophila suzukii is independent of host size
title_fullStr The preference of Trichopria drosophilae for pupae of Drosophila suzukii is independent of host size
title_full_unstemmed The preference of Trichopria drosophilae for pupae of Drosophila suzukii is independent of host size
title_short The preference of Trichopria drosophilae for pupae of Drosophila suzukii is independent of host size
title_sort preference of trichopria drosophilae for pupae of drosophila suzukii is independent of host size
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80355-5
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