Adaptive Variation in Host-Selection Behaviour of Asobara tabida, a Parasitoid of Drosophila Larvae

1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Kraaijeveld ◽  
B. Nowee ◽  
R. W. Najem
Keyword(s):  
Host Selection ◽  
Adaptive Variation ◽  
Asobara Tabida ◽  
Drosophila Larvae

Olfactory Microhabitat Selection in Leptopilina Heterotoma (Thomson) (Hym.: Eucoilidae), a Parasitoid of Drosophilidae

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise E.M. Vet ◽  
Karin Van Opzeeland
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Microhabitat Selection ◽  
Behavioural Flexibility ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Parasitoid Species ◽  
Temporal Separation ◽  
Leptopilina Heterotoma ◽  
Asobara Tabida ◽  
Drosophila Larvae ◽  
Larval Conditioning

Leptopilina heterotoma (Thomson) and Asobara tabida (Nees), solitary endoparasitoids of frugivorous Drosophila larvae, are assumed to be competitors. Olfactometer experiments showed, however, that the species differ in their preference for microhabitat odours. Whereas A. tabida prefers a fresh fermenting sugar/yeast medium, L. heterotoma prefers this medium in a later stage of decay. These results are confirmed by field observations. This temporal separation between the species, which is not complete because some multiparasitism does occur, may be one of the factors to their coexistence. Odour preference in L. heterotoma is not modified by larval conditioning, but conditioning of the adults significantly influenced their odour response. The ecological significance of such learning is discussed. It is argued that even though such behavioural flexibility may enhance foraging efficiency when resources are unpredictable, it may also influence the amount of competition between the two parasitoid species.

Avoidance of encapsulation in the absence of VLP by a braconid parasitoid of Drosophila larvae: an ultrastructural study

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 2193-2198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice Eslin ◽  
Philippe Giordanengo ◽  
Yvelise Fourdrain ◽  
Geneviève Prévost
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Adhesive Properties ◽  
Digestive Tube ◽  
Virus Like Particles ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Asobara Tabida ◽  
Larval Host ◽  
Drosophila Larvae ◽  
Host Tissues

The hymenopteran Asobara tabida Nees (Braconidae: Alysiinae) parasitizes the larval stages of Drosophila species. In D. melanogaster, 90% of A. tabida eggs avoid encapsulation and are found embedded within the tissues (digestive tube, fat body, tracheae, etc.) of their larval host. Electron microscopy was used to investigate if the embedment of the parasitic egg within the tissues of its host may prevent encapsulation. Study revealed that the outer layer of the A. tabida egg consists of a fibrous exochorion that exhibits adhesive properties within the tissues of D. melanogaster. Three hours after oviposition, any basement membrane surrounding the host tissues that is in contact with the parasitic egg is stuck to the exochorion. Attachment rapidly increases. Nine hours post oviposition, the A. tabida egg is almost totally surrounded by a sheath of host tissue, with only limited areas of the surface remaining uncovered and exposed to attack by the host hemocytes. It is therefore concluded that the adhesion of A. tabida eggs to the host tissues is likely to contribute to their protection from encapsulation during embryogenesis. Also, electron microscopy reveals that no virus-like particles occur in A. tabida, unlike any other braconid parasitoid studied. The absence of virus-like particles is discussed with regard to the importance of host regulation of the particles in other braconid species.

Drosophila parasitoid–host interactions: vibrotaxis and ovipositor searching from the host's perspective

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marla B. Sokolowski ◽  
Ted C. J. Turlings
Keyword(s):  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Encounter Rate ◽  
Female Parasitoid ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
Asobara Tabida ◽  
Searching Strategy ◽  
Individual Host ◽  
Drosophila Larvae ◽  
Host Strains ◽  
Host Movement

Two strains of Drosophila differing in host movement were simultaneously offered to a female parasitoid of either Leptopilina heterotoma or Asobara tabida. The number of encounters with the moving and nonmoving host strains was independent of larval movement forL. heterotoma whereas a highly significant effect of movement was found for A. tabida. This increased encounter rate of A. tabida with moving larvae resulted from the interaction of this parasitoid's searching strategy (vibrotaxis) and the polymorphic behaviour of the hosts. We conclude that differences in searching mode of two parasitoids of Drosophila larvae, A. tabida and L. heterotoma, can influence individual host susceptibility.

Selective information use in parasitoid wasps

2006 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Hoffmeister ◽  
Andra Thiel
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Parasitic Wasp ◽  
Information Use ◽  
Host Density ◽  
Asobara Tabida ◽  
Drosophila Larvae ◽  
Solitary Parasitoid ◽  
Patch Exploitation ◽  
Selective Information

AbstractForaging animals frequently have to decide where to search, what host or prey to accept, and when to leave a patch. To achieve optimal patch exploitation rates, foragers can base their decisions on information about the quality of the current patch and on an estimate of the quality of the entire habitat. The latter has rarely been studied to date. We have analysed the patch-leaving behaviour of the parasitic wasp Asobara tabida Nees (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary parasitoid of Drosophila larvae, as a function of previous experience. Females were confronted with patches containing different numbers of larvae, which were either unparasitised, or parasitised by a conspecific or larvae of different host species. Our results show that females of A. tabida were able to recognise the different qualities of the patches that we offered but that they used information about host density, host species or parasitism status of the host to different degrees during subsequent patch visits. Encounters with an unsuitable host species had a great impact on future patch-leaving decisions while the effect of host density was relatively weak. If wasps had encountered previously parasitised hosts no response could be detected during subsequent visits. We argue that the various information sources provided are of different value for the searching female and that this might explain the observed pattern of selective information use.

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