Functional response of Wolbachia-infected and uninfected Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific entomology Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 787 - 793
• Main Authors: Dong, Hui, Liu, Quanquan, Xie, Lina, Cong, Bin, Wang, Huan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-09-2017; 한국응용곤충학회
• Subjects: Biological control; Bisexual; Functional response; Predator-prey interactions; Thelytokous; Wolbachia; 농수해양학; Bisexual; Thelytokous; Predator-prey interactions; Functional response; Wolbachia; Biological control
• ISSN: 1226-8615; 1876-7990
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2017.05.001

Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are haplo-diploid egg parasitoid wasps widely used as biological control agents against the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Two reproductive modes have been found in this species. Typically, female wasps produce haploid male offspring from unfertilized eggs and diploid female offspring from fertilized eggs (bisexual). However, they can also produce only diploid females when they are infected with Wolbachia, though the eggs are unfertilized (thelytokokous). To investigate the potential of a thelytokous Wolbachia-infected (TdW+) and a bisexual uninfected (Td) T. dendrolimi strain as inundative biocontrol agents, the functional responses of both strains toward their natural enemy (Asian corn borer) were evaluated at three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C). The results revealed two types of functional response for both strains: type II and III. TdW+strain displayed type II at 30°C (high temperature) and III at 20°C (low temperature) and 25°C, while Td strain displayed type II at 20°C and III at 25°C and 30°C. The comparison of functional response between two strains indicated TdW+ and Td strain had no significant difference at 20°C. However, the estimated host handling time of the TdW+ strain was significantly shorter than that of the Td strain at 25°C, and TdW+ strain had significantly higher instantaneous search rate and shorter handling time than Td strain at 30°C. Shorter host handling time and higher instantaneous search rate in thelytokous Wolbachia-infected T. dendrolimi showed that this strain might be more effective for controlling Asian corn borer.
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•The thelytokous Wolbachia-infected stain is more effective for control of Asian corn borer.•Both strains display either a type II or III functional response at different temperature.•The functional response was affected by Wolbachia significantly.