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Submitted to: BioControl
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2005 Publication Date: 12/1/2005 Citation: Riddick, E. W. 2005. Are lab-cultured Anaphes iole females strictly proovigenic?. Biocontrol. 50: 911-919. Interpretive Summary: Females of the fairyfly Anaphes iole (an important egg parasitoid of Lygus bugs) are able to generate a considerable number of eggs within their ovaries within several days after emerging as adults. Most of the published literature indicates that this species emerges with a full complement of mature eggs and females can mature at most a few additional eggs after adult emergence. The potential for females to resume egg production may have an impact on the design of a mass production system. Females may can be recycled in a rearing system to produce more parasitoids. This research should be of interest to scientists in industry. Technical Abstract: Anaphes iole Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is a solitary egg parasitoid of Lygus bugs (Heteroptera: Miridae) in North America. Previous research has suggested that A. iole females are strictly proovigenic. This study was designed to determine if honey-fed A. iole females could in fact mature additional eggs if exposed to hosts for a few days then removed from hosts and held at 25°C for 0, 3, or 6 d. Contrary to expectation, honey-fed A. iole females matured considerably more eggs when deprived of hosts for 3 or 6 d rather than 0 d. This research suggests that A. iole females are not strictly proovigenic. However, A. iole females do have proovigenic tendencies, since most females emerge with at least 71% of their potential fecundity (including initial and post-emergence mature eggs). |
