The effect of the quality and size of host aphid species on the biological characteristics of Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

• Published in: European journal of entomology Vol. 105; no. 3; pp. 489 - 494
• Main Authors: Sampaio, M.V.,Universidade Federal de Lavras (Brazil). Departamento de Entomologia, Bueno, V.H.P.,Universidade Federal de Lavras (Brazil). Departamento de Entomologia, De Conti, B.F.,Universidade Federal de Lavras (Brazil). Departamento de Entomologia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ceske Budejovice Institute of Entomology 01.01.2008; Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
• Subjects: ANIMAL HEALTH; Aphididae; aphidiidae; Aphidiinae; APHIDIUS; Aphidius colemani; APHIS GOSSYPII; BODY MEASUREMENTS; Braconidae; BREVICORYNE BRASSICAE; CALIDAD; DIMENSION; DIMENSIONS; Females; fitness; host quality; HOSTS; HOTE; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16196; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2283; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24772; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_26357; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_30762; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_30769; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_30785; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_30787; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_34070; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3673; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_37512; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_431; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6400; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_980; HUESPEDES; Hymenoptera; MEDICION DEL CUERPO; MENSURATION CORPORELLE; Mortality; Mummies; MYZUS PERSICAE; parasitoid; PARASITOIDE; PARASITOIDES; PARASITOIDS; PESTS OF PLANTS; PLAGAS DE PLANTAS; QUALITE; QUALITY; RAVAGEUR DES PLANTES; RHOPALOSIPHUM MAIDIS; SANIDAD ANIMAL; SANTE ANIMALE; SCHIZAPHIS GRAMINUM; VIGOR; VIGOUR; VIGUEUR
• ISSN: 1210-5759; 1802-8829
• DOI: 10.14411/eje.2008.063

This work evaluates the suitability and quality of Aphis gossypii, Brevicoryne brassicae, Myzus persicae, Rhopalosiphum maidis and Schizaphis graminum as hosts for Aphidius colemani. Twenty second-instar nymphs of each aphid species were exposed to parasitism for one hour, and then kept in a climatic chamber at 22+/-1 deg C, 70+/-10% RH and a 12 h photophase. The aphid B. brassicae was unsuitable for the development of A. colemani. The different aphid host species varied in size: M. persicae more than (R. maidis = S. graminum) more than A. gossypii. Parasitoid fitness decreased accordingly when reared on (M. persicae = R. maidis) more than S. graminum more than A. gossypii. Large hosts seem to be better than small hosts based on parasitoid size. Egg load of A. colemani was related probably more with the ability of the parasitoid larva to obtain nutritional resources from the different host species than with host size.