Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density

The parasitoid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is commonly present in stored product facilities. While beneficial, it does not provide a high 24 degree of biological pest control against its host, the saw-toothed beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silva...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eliopoulos, Panagliotis A., Kapranas, Apostolos, Givropoulou, Elftheria, Hardy, Ian C.W.
Format: Article
Published: Cambridge University Press 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34581/
_version_ 1848794887924744192
author Eliopoulos, Panagliotis A.
Kapranas, Apostolos
Givropoulou, Elftheria
Hardy, Ian C.W.
author_facet Eliopoulos, Panagliotis A.
Kapranas, Apostolos
Givropoulou, Elftheria
Hardy, Ian C.W.
author_sort Eliopoulos, Panagliotis A.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description The parasitoid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is commonly present in stored product facilities. While beneficial, it does not provide a high 24 degree of biological pest control against its host, the saw-toothed beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). A candidate explanation for poor host population suppression is that adult females interfere with each other’s foraging and reproductive behavior. We used simple laboratory microcosms to evaluate such mutual interference in terms of its overall effects on offspring production. We varied the density of the hosts and also the spatial structure of the environment, via the extent of population sub-division and the provision of different substrates. Production of C. tarsalis offspring was positively influenced by host density and by the isolation of females. With incomplete sub-division within microcosms offspring production was, in contrast, low and even zero. The provision of corrugated paper as a substrate enhanced offspring production and partially mitigated the effects of mutual interference. We recommend simple improvements to mass rearing practice and identify promising areas for further behavioral and chemical studies towards a better understanding of the mechanisms of mutual interference.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T19:23:20Z
format Article
id nottingham-34581
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T19:23:20Z
publishDate 2016
publisher Cambridge University Press
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-345812020-05-04T18:18:08Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34581/ Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density Eliopoulos, Panagliotis A. Kapranas, Apostolos Givropoulou, Elftheria Hardy, Ian C.W. The parasitoid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is commonly present in stored product facilities. While beneficial, it does not provide a high 24 degree of biological pest control against its host, the saw-toothed beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). A candidate explanation for poor host population suppression is that adult females interfere with each other’s foraging and reproductive behavior. We used simple laboratory microcosms to evaluate such mutual interference in terms of its overall effects on offspring production. We varied the density of the hosts and also the spatial structure of the environment, via the extent of population sub-division and the provision of different substrates. Production of C. tarsalis offspring was positively influenced by host density and by the isolation of females. With incomplete sub-division within microcosms offspring production was, in contrast, low and even zero. The provision of corrugated paper as a substrate enhanced offspring production and partially mitigated the effects of mutual interference. We recommend simple improvements to mass rearing practice and identify promising areas for further behavioral and chemical studies towards a better understanding of the mechanisms of mutual interference. Cambridge University Press 2016-10-03 Article PeerReviewed Eliopoulos, Panagliotis A., Kapranas, Apostolos, Givropoulou, Elftheria and Hardy, Ian C.W. (2016) Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density. Bulletin of Entomological Research . pp. 1-9. ISSN 1475-2670 Mutual interference Cephalonomia tarsalis Oryzaephilus surinamensis Stored products behavioural and chemical interactions https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/div-classtitlereproductive-efficiency-of-the-bethylid-wasp-span-classitaliccephalonomia-tarsalisspan-the-influences-of-spatial-structure-and-host-densitydiv/F9308343DAD4329 doi:10.1017/S0007485316000651 doi:10.1017/S0007485316000651
spellingShingle Mutual interference
Cephalonomia tarsalis
Oryzaephilus surinamensis
Stored products
behavioural and chemical interactions
Eliopoulos, Panagliotis A.
Kapranas, Apostolos
Givropoulou, Elftheria
Hardy, Ian C.W.
Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density
title Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density
title_full Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density
title_fullStr Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density
title_full_unstemmed Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density
title_short Reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp Cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density
title_sort reproductive efficiency of the bethylid wasp cephalonomia tarsalis: the influences of spatial structure and host density
topic Mutual interference
Cephalonomia tarsalis
Oryzaephilus surinamensis
Stored products
behavioural and chemical interactions
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34581/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34581/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34581/