Occurrence, Seasonal Abundance, and Superparasitism of Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) as an Egg Parasitoid of the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in North America

The occurrence of egg parasitoid Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) on its new host, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)), was surveyed at 4 study plots in 2016 and 10 additional plots in 2017 in Pennsylvania through field collection and laboratory incubation. O. kuvanae adults were found on L. delicatula egg mass surfaces at two plots (ODSouth and Lutz) in 2016, but at none in 2017. The results of laboratory incubation showed that O. kuvanae adults were only recovered from host eggs collected at plot ODSouth in 2016, with adults emerging between 22 April and 2 May 2016 at 22 ± 1 °C, 40% ± 5% relative humidity (RH), and a 16:8 h photoperiod (light/dark). The overall parasitism at this study plot was 6.0% by egg mass and 1.2% by egg. Two oviposition sites contained parasitized L. delicatula eggs, with 12.3% (9.5–15.0%) host egg masses and 3.1% (1.3–5.0%) host eggs utilized by the parasitoid. O. kuvanae parasitism by egg was significantly higher on oviposition site ODSouth #7 than on ODSouth #8. No O. kuvanae adults were reared out of field-collected host eggs from the 10 plots in 2017. Seasonal abundance and superparasitism of O. kuvanae was examined at plot ODSouth in 2017. O. kuvanae-parasitized L. delicatula eggs were found on all four oviposition sites based on field monitoring of parasitoid adult emergence, resulting in a parasitism of 35.4% (18.8–55.6%) by egg mass and 2.2% (0.5–3.9%) by egg. No significant difference in parasitism by egg was observed among oviposition sites. O. kuvanae adults emerged in the field between 2 May and 1 June 2017. Superparasitism was confirmed for O. kuvanae on L. delicatula eggs based on parasitoid production (1.0–3.3 adults/parasitized egg) and adult exit holes (1–3 exit holes/parasitized egg). As the first parasitoid recorded from L. delicatula in North America, O. kuvanae has the potential to become an important biological control agent for L. delicatula in North America, with its well-synchronized life history in the spring, century-long field establishment, superparasitism, and female-biased progeny population. L. delicatula complements the gypsy moth well as an alternative host for O. kuvanae in the field.

An updated checklist of Iranian Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

An updated checklist of Iranian Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) is presented based on literature records from 1947–2016. The current list includes 159 species representing 48 genera. Parasitoid-host associations in Iran and distributional data are also provided. Twelve encyrtid species (7.55%) are known only from Iran but a high number of species (68 species, 42.77%) are widely distributed in the Palaearctic region. Four species previously listed from Iran, Metaphycus angustifrons Compere, 1957, Homalotylus ephippium (Ruschka, 1923), H. sinensis Xu & He, 1997, and Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Howard, 1910) are no longer considered present. Hosts of Iranian encyrtid species are tabulated by order and family, with the majority being Hemiptera (66.98%), followed by Lepidoptera and Coleoptera (each 9.44%), Diptera (6.60%), Hymenoptera (4.71%) and Neuroptera (2.83%). The majority of Encyrtidae known in Iran are parasitoids of the superfamily Coccoidea (46.22%). Host-plant associations of Iranian Encyrtidae are also tabulated, by plant family.

A new substitute host and its effects on some biological properties ofOoencyrtus kuvanae

Lymantia dispar(L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), commonly known as the gypsy moth, is a serious forest pest, and beneficial insects are particularly important for reducing its population numbers.Ooencyrtus kuvanae(Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is an arrhenotokous, solitary egg parasitoid ofL. dispar. In this study, we evaluated a new substitute host,Philosamia ricini(Danovan) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) forO. kuvanae. We investigated some of the biological effects ofO. kuvanaeonP. ricinieggs. In this context, the importance of the age of the female parasitoid (1, 3 or 5 days old), host age (1–2 and 3–4 days old) and host number (40, 60 and 80 host eggs) were examined under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% relative humidity and a 16 : 8 h photoperiod [light : dark]). The highest rate of offspring production (89.90%) occurred with 40 (1–2-day-old) host eggs and 5-day-old females. The mean developmental period ranged from 16.5 ± 0.08 days to 18.7 ± 0.08 days. The mean lifespan of the parasitoid was 51.10 ± 1.1 (n= 60) days with bio-honey and 3.92 ± 0.14 (n= 60) days without food. The mean fecundity was 68.88 ± 3.22 offspring/female. Peak adult emergence occurred between 2 and 9 days. The mean oviposition and mean post-oviposition periods of the female parasitoid were 22.76 ± 1.37 days and 13.64 ± 1.40 days, respectively.O. kuvanaewas reared for more than ten generations on the eggs ofP. ricini. Based on our findings,P. ricinican be used to rearO. kuvanaefor the biological control ofL. dispar.

First-male sperm precedence and precopulatory and postcopulatory rituals in the parasitoid waspOoencyrtus kuvanae(Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Sperm competition generates selection for male traits to prevent it. These traits remain unclear in species where males compete for a virgin who is briefly receptive. Males of the parasitoid waspOoencyrtus kuvanaeHoward (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) compete over females following emergence from host egg masses. Males engage virgins in a precopulatory ritual, mate, and then immediately perform a postcopulatory ritual after which the female becomes unreceptive. Often, sneaker (M2) males copulate with a female while she is engaged in the postcopulatory ritual, and they also perform the postcopulatory ritual. We investigated (i) paternity of M1and M2males using DNA microsatellite analysis, (ii) copulation and postcopulatory behaviour of both males, and (iii) morphological adaptations of the aedeagus for sperm removal. Eighty-eight percent of M1males sired all daughters when they were first to perform the precopulatory and postcopulatory ritual, suggesting a linked effect of both rituals on paternity. The number and length of copulations by both males did not affect paternity, and the shape of the aedeagus does not seem to facilitate sperm removal. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that postcopulatory rituals represent forms of mate guarding that function to increase paternity in the context of sperm competition.