The development of the endoparasitoid Venturia canescens in Bt-tolerant, immune induced larvae of the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella.
We examined the survival and development of the endoparasitoid Venturia canescens in a Bt-tolerant laboratory strain of the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella, in which Bt-tolerance has been shown to be associated with an inducible elevation of the insect's immune response. The results indicate the elevated immune status associated with Bt-tolerance does not confer cross-protection against parasitism by V. canescens. No significant difference was observed in the rate of emergent wasps from parasitised Bt-tolerant and Bt-susceptible hosts. In addition, wasps from Bt-tolerant hosts had longer development times and were larger than wasps from Bt-susceptible hosts.
Rahman
M Mahbubur
MM
Insect Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
Roberts
Harry L S
HL
Schmidt
Otto
O
D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000276:immunology*; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D009036:Moths / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*