This study investigated differences in flower preferences between the parasitoid Trybliographa rapae Westwood (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and its host, the economically important pest of cruciferous crops, the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum L. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). The data obtained were used to suggest selective food plants in conservation biological control programmes for control of D. radicum. The attraction of both insect species to floral odours emitted from nine different plant species, their ability to access nectar from four of these species and the effect of the most promising plant species on insect longevity were determined. Naive T. rapae females were significantly attracted to flower odours from Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. (Polygonaceae) and repelled by Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae) and Borago officinalis L. (Boraginaceae). In addition, T. rapae gained weight when exposed to F. esculentum, Anethum graveolens L. (Apiaceae) and Lobularia maritima Desv. (Brassicaceae). In contrast, naive D. radicum females showed attraction to most of the flowers. The longevity of both T. rapae and D. radicum increased significantly when they were provided with flowering A. graveolens and F. esculentum. In addition to the laboratory studies, a semi-field experiment was made to study the impact of flowering F. esculentum on the ability of T. rapae to parasitize D. radicum larvae. Significantly more larvae were parasitized in cages where a floral resource was present. The findings are discussed in the context of a Brassica agroecosystem.

Nilsson, U.; Rännbäck, L.M.; Anderson, P.; Eriksson, A.; Rämert, B. (2011). Comparison of nectar use and preference in the parasitoid Trybliographa rapae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and its host, the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum (Diptera. Anthomyiidae). BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 21 (9): 1117-1132. doi: 10.1080/09583157.2011.605518 handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/20283

Comparison of nectar use and preference in the parasitoid Trybliographa rapae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and its host, the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum (Diptera. Anthomyiidae)

Eriksson, Anna;
2011-01-01

Abstract

This study investigated differences in flower preferences between the parasitoid Trybliographa rapae Westwood (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and its host, the economically important pest of cruciferous crops, the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum L. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). The data obtained were used to suggest selective food plants in conservation biological control programmes for control of D. radicum. The attraction of both insect species to floral odours emitted from nine different plant species, their ability to access nectar from four of these species and the effect of the most promising plant species on insect longevity were determined. Naive T. rapae females were significantly attracted to flower odours from Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. (Polygonaceae) and repelled by Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae) and Borago officinalis L. (Boraginaceae). In addition, T. rapae gained weight when exposed to F. esculentum, Anethum graveolens L. (Apiaceae) and Lobularia maritima Desv. (Brassicaceae). In contrast, naive D. radicum females showed attraction to most of the flowers. The longevity of both T. rapae and D. radicum increased significantly when they were provided with flowering A. graveolens and F. esculentum. In addition to the laboratory studies, a semi-field experiment was made to study the impact of flowering F. esculentum on the ability of T. rapae to parasitize D. radicum larvae. Significantly more larvae were parasitized in cages where a floral resource was present. The findings are discussed in the context of a Brassica agroecosystem.
Habitat manipulation
Flowers
Attractiveness
Accessibility
Longevity
Nettare
Longevità
Attrattività
Fiori
Manipolazione dell’habitat
2011
Nilsson, U.; Rännbäck, L.M.; Anderson, P.; Eriksson, A.; Rämert, B. (2011). Comparison of nectar use and preference in the parasitoid Trybliographa rapae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and its host, the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum (Diptera. Anthomyiidae). BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 21 (9): 1117-1132. doi: 10.1080/09583157.2011.605518 handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/20283
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