The influence of food consumption and conspecifics on the flight performance of the parasitoid Ibalia leucospoides Hochenwarch (Hymenoptera: Ibaliidae)

FISCHBEIN DEBORAH.; CORLEY JUAN; VILLACIDE JOSE; BERNSTEIN CARLOS

Indianapolis, Indiana, USDA

Congreso; 57th Annual Meeting 2009, Entomological Society of America; 2009

Foraging flights in order to search for different resources are often engaged by insects. In the case of insect parasitoids, the knowledge of their flight capability is relevant for understanding both their ecology and its interactions with host populations. High flight capability, among others attributes, is crucial to achieve a success of pest species biological control. Ibalia leucospoides Hochenwarch (Hymenoptera: Ibaliidae) is a solitary and pro-ovigenic parasitoid of the primitive woodwasp Sirex noctilio Boidin (Hymenoptera, Siricidae), an economically important pest of softwood forestation. In this study we explored the flight capacities of I. leucospoides females and we assessed the effects of sugary food supply and competition for food on female parasitoids flight performance, by using computer-linked flight mills. Our study showed: 1- a great variability in flight potential capability of I. leucospoides females; 2 - no significant effects on flight parameters (flight distance and speed) of food supply and food competition, whereas size of parasitoids did influence their potential dispersal and; 3- that under our experimental conditions there was not any interference between females while they fed themselves grouped. Despite this survey was a first attempt to evaluate laboratory conditions of food provisioning and competition for food in I. Leucospoides, the lack of effects of food intake on a highly energy-demanding activity as flight, may be related to the life-history traits and nutritional strategies of pro-ovigenic parasitoid wasps. We finally discuss the importance of these observations on the efficiency of I. leucospoides as a biological control agent