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Oothecal parasites of Periplaneta americana: Parasitization and development in relation to host age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

N. C. Kumarasinghe
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
Jayanthi P. Edirisinghe*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
*
Dept. of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
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Abstract

Oviposition and development of Evania appendigaster and Tetrastichus hagenowii in live P. americana oothecae ranging in age from 0–44 days was investigated. E. appendigaster oviposited in oothecae of all ages but developed only in 0–28 days old oothecae. T. hagenowii oviposited only in oothecae 0–34 days old, but developed only in 0–28 days old oothecae. Oothecae parasitized by E. appendigaster were superparasitized only during the first 4 days after the initial parasitization. A single parasite emerged from each such oothecae, indicating that only one of the two ovipositions was successful. Oothecae superparasitized by T. hagenowii during the first 8 days of the initial parasitization, resulted in ca. 90 parasites from both ovipositions. Oothecae parasitized by each species of parasite were subjected to multiple parasitism by the other species. Oviposition of E. appendigaster in 0–25 days old oothecae, parasitized by T. hagenowii was ineffective as it resulted in the emergence of T. hagenowii only. Reparasitization of 0–36 days old E. appendigaster-parasitized oothecae by T. hagenowii within 0–32 days resulted in the development of T. hagenowii, but reparasitization thereafter was ineffective as only E. appendigaster emerged. Even though T. hagenowii is more efficient than E. appendigaster, in parasitizing and developing in different types of P. americana oothecae, under field conditions the two species of parasites contribute equally towards the natural control of P. americana.

Résumé

L'étude a porté sur la ponte et le développement de E. appendigaster et de T. hagenowii dans P. americana oothecae agées de 0 à 44 jours. E. appendigaster a pondu dans des oothecae de tous les aĝes mais ne s'est développer que dans celles qui ont été parasitées entre l'âge de 0 à 28 jours. T. hagenowii a pondu dans des oothecae agées de 0 à 34 jours mais ne s'est développées que dans celles agées de 0 à 28 jours. Les oothecae parasitées par E. appendigaster ont été “super parasitees” (parasité à nuveau) pendant seulement 4 premiers jours après la première ponte parasitaire. Un seul parasite est sorti de chacune des ces oothecae en montrant que seulement une des deux pontes a été réussie. Les oothecae “super parasitees” par T. hagenowii pendant les 8 premiers jours après la première ponte parasitaire ont donné naissance à environs 90 parasites provenant des deux pontes.

Des oothecae parasitées par chaque espéce de parasites ont été s’ exposées au parasitisme multiple par l'autre espece. La ponte de E. appendigaster dans T. hagenowii parasité au stade oothecae agées de 0 à 25 jours était inefficace puisqu'on n'a obtenue que des T. hagenowii. Le parasitisme de E. appendigaster agées de 0 à 36 jours au stade de oothecae par T. hagenowii a donné naissance à des T. hagenowii pendant les 32 premiers jours mais ensuite le parasitisme était inefficace puisqu' on a eu seulement l'apparation de E. appendigaster. Même si T. hagenowii est plus efficace que E. appendigaster pour parasiter et se développer dans différants types de P. americana oothecae, dans les conditions experimentales les deux espèces de parasites contribuent également vers le contrôle naturel de P. americana.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1987

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References

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