Immature Development, Longevity and Fecundity of the Larval Parasitoid, Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), on Tobacco Cutworm

  • Hwang, Seok-Jo (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Byeon, Young-Woong (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Lee, Seol-Mae (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Kim, Jeong-Hwan (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Choi, Man-Young (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Kim, Sung-Hyun (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Kim, Nam-Jeong (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Park, Hae-Chul (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Lee, Young-Bo (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Lee, Sang-Beom (Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA)) ;
  • Lee, Jong-Wook (Department of Biology, Yeungnam University)
  • Received : 2010.11.30
  • Accepted : 2010.12.05
  • Published : 2010.12.31

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the temperature-dependent development, longevity and oviposition of an indigenous larval parasitoid, Meteorus pulchricornis, on tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura. M. pulchricornis were reared at nine constant temperatures between 15 and $35^{\circ}C$. The developmental times of each three developmental stage decreased from 38.7 to 16.3 d between 15 and $30^{\circ}C$. However, M. pulchricornis showed longer developmental time at $32.5^{\circ}C$ (9.5, 7.7 and 17.2 days for each three developmental stage) than at $30^{\circ}C$ (8.9, 7.3 and 16.3 days for each three developmental stage). Immature M. pulchricornis could not develop any more at $35^{\circ}C$. The lower developmental threshold estimated by linear regression equation for the egg to cocoon, cocoon to adult emergence and egg to adult emergence were 5.1, 4.6 and $4.5^{\circ}C$. The thermal constant for each of the three stages were 217.2, 176.2 and 403.8 degree-days, respectively. When no food or 50% honey solution as a food source is provided for M. pulchricornis, the parasitoid survived for 8.3 and 55.9 days at $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. M. pulchricornis females laid 5.2 eggs daily and total of 131.6 eggs at $25^{\circ}C$ until it died. Peak age-specific fecundity was observed on $14^{th}$ day (9.6 cocoons) after parasitoid emergence and gradually decreased thereafter.

Keywords

References

  1. Bae SD, Kim HJ, Lee GH, Park ST (2007) Seasonal occurrence of tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura Fabricius and beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hubner using sex pheromone traps at different locations and regions in Yeongnam district. Korean J Appl Entomol 46, 27-35. https://doi.org/10.5656/KSAE.2007.46.1.027
  2. Bae SD, Park KB, Oh YJ (1997) Effect of temperature and food source on the egg and larval development of tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura Fabricius. Korean J Appl Entomol 36, 48-54.
  3. Berry JA (1997) Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae), a new record for New Zealand. New Zeal Entomol 20, 45-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/00779962.1997.9722668
  4. Berry JA, Walker GP (1997) Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae), an exotic polyphagous parasitoid in New Zealand. New Zeal J Zool 31, 33-44.
  5. Campbell A, Frazer BD, Gilbert N, Gutierrez AP, Mackauer AP (1974) Temperature requirements of some aphids and their parasites. J Appl Ecol 11, 431-438. https://doi.org/10.2307/2402197
  6. Chhangan A, Stephens AEA, Charles JG (2008) Developmental biology of Meteorus pulchrinornis parasitizing painted apple moth. New Zeal Plant Protec 61, 12-16.
  7. Fuester RW, Taylor PB, Peng H, Swan K (1993) Laboratory biology of uniparental strain of Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an exotic larval parasitoid of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 86, 298-394. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/86.3.298
  8. Garad GP, Shivpuje PR, Bilapate GG (1984) Life fecundity tables of Spodoptera litura Fabricius on different hosts. Proc Indian Acad Sci (Anim Sci) 93, 29-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03186223
  9. Goh HG, Park JD, Choi YN, Choi KM, Park IS (1991) The host plants of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its occurrence. Korean J Appl Entomol 30, 111-116.
  10. Heimpel GE, Collier TR (1996) The evolution of host-feeding behavior in insect parasitoids. Biol rev 71, 373-400. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1996.tb01279.x
  11. Heimpel GE, Rosenheim JA, Kattari D (1997) Adult feeding and lifetime reproductive success in the parasitoid Aphytis melinus. Entomol Exp et Appl 83, 305-317. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1570-7458.1997.00185.x
  12. Jervis MA, Kidd NAC (1986) Host-feeding strategies in Hymenopteran parasitoids. Biol Rev 61, 395-434.
  13. Jervis MA, Kidd NAC (1996) Phytophagy; in Insect Natural Enemies Practical Approaches to Their Study and Evaluation. Jervis MA and Kidd NAC (ed), pp. 375-934, Chapman & Hall, London, UK.
  14. Jervis MA, Kidd NAC, Heimpel GE (1996) Parasitoid feeding behavior and biocontrol - a review. Biocon News and Information 17, 11-22.
  15. Kim HH, Cho SR, Choo HY, Lee SM, Jeon HY, Lee DW (2008) Biological control of Tobacco Cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by Steinernematid and Heterorhabditid Entomopathogenic Nematodes. Kor J Appl Entomol 47, 447-456. https://doi.org/10.5656/KSAE.2008.47.4.447
  16. Kim DA, Kim JS, Kim MR, Paek SK, Choi SY, Jin DY, Youn YN, Hwang IC, Yu YM (2008) Characterization of New Bacillus thuringiensis Isolated with Bioactivities to Tobacco Cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Kor J Appl Entomol 47, 87-93. https://doi.org/10.5656/KSAE.2008.47.1.087
  17. Moussa M., Zaher A, Kotby F (1960) Abundunce of the cotton leafworm, Prodentia litura (F.) (S. litura), in relation to host plants, I. host plants and their effects on biology (Lepidoptera: Agrotidae-Zenobiinae). Bull Kyushu Nat Agr Expt Sta 49, 1-110.
  18. Rao GVR, Wightman JA, Ranga Rao DV (1993) World review of the natural enemies and disease of Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Insect Sci Appl 14, 273-284.
  19. Woo SD, Je YH, Jin BR (2005) Characterization of the Polyhedrin Gene of Spodoptera litura Nucleopolyhedrovirus Isolated in Korea. J Asia-Pac Entomol 8, 257-262. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1226-8615(08)60243-5