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STRUCTURAL DAMAGE BY FEMALE HEMADAS NUBILIPENNIS (HYMENOPTERA: PTEROMALIDAE) AS A FACTOR IN GALL INDUCTION ON LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

J.D. Shorthouse
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6
A. West
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6
R.W. Landry
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6
P.D. Thibodeau
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6

Abstract

The chalcidoid wasp, Hemadas nubilipennis (Ashmead), induces a reniform gall on the adventitious shoots of lowbush blueberry. Eggs are laid within shoot tissues 5–15 mm below the tip and then the female destroys the apex of the shoot by stabbing with her ovipositor. Stabbing terminates growth of the shoot, and as a result all nutrients flowing into the shoot are redirected towards the gall tissues and larvae. This is a rare example of an insect damaging tissues of the host plant for the benefit of the offspring. It also is suggested that stabbing and gall formation have a pruning effect on the host plant.

Résumé

La guêpe chalcidoïde, Hemadas nubilipennis (Ashmead), induit une galle réniforme sur les pousses adventives du bleuet. Les ouefs sont pondus dans le tissu de la pousse, 5–15 mm inférieur à l’apex et puis la femelle détruit l’apex en le piquant avec son ovipositeur. Ce piquage termine la croissance de la pousse et il s’ensuit que tous les nutriments s’écoulant dans la pousse sont déviés vers les tissus de la cécidie et de la larve. Ceci est un exemple rare d’un insecte qui endommage les tissus d’une plante hôtesse pour le bénéfice de sa progéniture. Nous suggerons aussi que le piquage et la formation de la galle produisent un effet d’émondage sur la plante hôtesse.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1986

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