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Performance and functional responses of the thelytokous and arrhenotokous strains of Neochrysocharis formosa to Tuta absoluta, a globally severe tomato pest

Guifen Zhang*#, Hao Wang*, Yibo Zhang*, Xiaoqing Xian, Cong Huang, Wanxue Liu, Fanghao Wan

State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests/Key Laboratory of Invasive Alien Species Control of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China

 Highlights 

| The TH and AR strains preferentially parasitize and attack 1st instar host larvae over later instars.

| Variations in host-killing by N. formosa produce distinct functional responses to T. absoluta.

Parasitism by TH and AR and host-stinging by TH display type III functional responses.

Host-feeding by TH and AR and host-stinging by AR display type II functional responses.

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摘要  

芙新姬小蜂Neochrysocharis formosa(膜翅目:姬小蜂科)为本地寄生蜂,具有孤雌产雌和两性生殖两个品系,对外来入侵害虫番茄潜叶Tuta absoluta(鳞翅目:麦蛾科)具有较好的生防潜力。本研究通过选择性实验(包括5种寄主龄期比例)评价两种品系芙新姬小蜂对番茄潜叶蛾的控害行为和寄主偏好性;以7个不同种群密度(5-40头)的1龄幼虫为研究对象,评价两种品系芙新姬小蜂的功能反应。寄主控害行为和龄期选择性实验结果表明,随1龄幼虫比例的增加,两种品系寄生蜂对番茄潜叶蛾幼虫的致死率明显增加;与较高龄期幼虫相比,两种品系芙新姬小蜂更倾向于产卵寄生、寄主取食和叮蛰致死1龄寄主幼虫,而且孤雌产雌品系较两性生殖品系对番茄潜叶蛾的控害能力更强。功能反应评价结果显示,两种品系芙新姬小蜂的控害率与寄主密度呈正相关关系;其中,两种品系寄生蜂的产卵寄生行为、以及孤雌产雌品系的寄主叮蛰致死行为III型功能反应,而两种品系寄生蜂的寄主取食行为、以及两性生殖品系的寄主叮蛰致死行为为II型功能反应,表明在番茄生态系统早期建立孤雌产雌品系芙新姬小蜂可以提高对番茄潜叶蛾的控制作用。研究结果对明确芙新姬小蜂孤雌产雌品系和两性生殖品系的功能特性动态具有重要指导意义,并且可以为制定世界性重大入侵害虫—番茄潜叶蛾的有效生物防治方案提供理论支撑。



Abstract  

The native thelytokous (TH) and arrhenotokous (AR) strains of Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) are promising biocontrol agents against the invasive tomato pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). This study assessed the performance and preferences of these strains in choice experiments involving five host instar ratios and evaluated their functional responses to seven densities of 1st instar larvae (5 to 40 hosts). In host-attacking behavior assays, an increasing proportion of 1st instar larvae led to a significant rise in host mortality rates for both strains. Both strains exhibited strong preferences for parasitizing and attacking 1st instar larvae over later instars, with the TH strain demonstrating significantly greater host-killing efficacy than the AR strain. Functional response experiments revealed that the attack rates of both strains were positively correlated with host density. Parasitism by both strains and host-stinging behavior by the TH strain showed type III functional responses, while host-feeding by both strains and host-stinging by the AR strain followed type II functional responses. Early establishment of the TH strain in tomato agroecosystems could enhance the management of T. absoluta. These findings provide critical insights into the functional dynamics of the TH and AR strains of N. formosa that can inform the development of effective biocontrol programs for this globally significant pest.

Keywords:  tomato leafminer       Eulophidae        Gelechiidae        idiobiont endo-parasitoid        choice experiment        biological control  
Online: 18 April 2025  
Fund: 

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of China (2021YFD1400200 and 2017YFC1200600), the Yunnan Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Program, China, and the Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (caascx-2021–2025-IAS and caas-zdrw202203). 

About author:  #Correspondence Guifen Zhang, Tel: +86-10-82109572, E-mail: zhangguifen@caas.cn *These authors contributed equally to this study

Cite this article: 

Guifen Zhang, Hao Wang, Yibo Zhang, Xiaoqing Xian, Cong Huang, Wanxue Liu, Fanghao Wan. 2025. Performance and functional responses of the thelytokous and arrhenotokous strains of Neochrysocharis formosa to Tuta absoluta, a globally severe tomato pest. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.023

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