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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #382359
Research Project: Biological Control for Management of Invasive Pest Management, Emphasizing Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Spotted Wing Drosophila and other Invasive Insect Pests of Crops

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Reproductive and developmental biology of Acroclisoides sinicus, a hyperparasitoid of scelionid parasitoids

Author
item GIOVANNINI, LUCREZIA - Crea
item SABBATINI-PEVERIERI, GIUSEPPINO - Crea
item Tillman, Patricia - Glynn
item Hoelmer, Kim
item ROVERSI, PIO FEDERICO - Crea

Submitted to: BMC Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2021
Publication Date: 3/16/2021
Citation: Giovannini, L., Sabbatini-Peverieri, G., Tillman, P.G., Hoelmer, K.A., Roversi, P. 2021. Reproductive and developmental biology of Acroclisoides sinicus, a hyperparasitoid of scelionid parasitoids. BMC Biology. 10(3): 229. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaa124.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaa124

Interpretive Summary: Field surveys to monitor the status of stink bug natural enemies in North America and Europe have detected the presence of the Asian hyperparasitoid Acroclisoides sinicus. Because hyperparasitoids attack the natural enemies of pests rather than the pests themselves, the adventive A. sinicus populations could eventually threaten the biological control of invasive and native stink bugs by reducing the impact of their natural enemies. Laboratory colonies of the hyperparasitoid were established from specimens collected in Europe and the U.S. to investigate the biology of this species. This information will allow researchers to evaluate the potential spread and impact of the hyperparasitoid.

Technical Abstract: Acroclisoides sinicus (Hym.: Pteromalidae) was described in 1988 from China but recent surveys in Europe and North America indicate it has a Holarctic distribution. The few published records and fragmented information on A. sinicus are derived from observations of other species belonging to the same genus, and its biological and ethological traits are still completely unexplored. It was suspected to be a facultative or obligate hyperparasitoid of egg parasitoids (e.g. Scelionidae and Eupelmidae), especially those parasitizing Pentatomidae eggs. Laboratory colonies of A. sinicus were established from specimens collected in the field in Europe and USA, which allowed us to investigate for the first time the life traits of this species. Our studies confirmed the obligate hyperparasitoid biology on species of Scelionidae, but not of Eupelmidae. Laboratory studies revealed that A. sinicus is extremely selective in its host recognition, as only the pupal stage of its host species is exploited for parasitization. Taking into consideration its hyperparasitism habit, the adventive A. sinicus populations detected in Europe and North America can be considered potentially severe threats to pentatomid biological control as a new component in the trophic chain of pentatomids and their parasitoid guilds, with impacts on the ecosystem that cannot be foreseen currently and that need to be investigated in the future.