Immature stages of development in the parasitoid wasp, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata.
The morphological changes experienced during the immature stages of the solitary parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae) were studied. This natural enemy of several species of tephritid fruit flies is widely used in biological control strategies. Immature stages are poorly understood in endoparasitoids because they exist within the host. In the present work, developmental processes are described for this species, reared in Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae under controlled environmental conditions. At 25 degrees C, 85% RH, and with an 18:6 L:D photoperiod, preimaginal development takes about 16 days. Five preimaginal stages can be described: egg, three larval instars, prepupa, pupa, and pharate adult. Superparasitism was found in 20% of the host pupae, and the number of oviposition scars was positively correlated with the number of parasitoid larvae per host puparium. The results are compared and discussed with previous studies on related species.
Paladino
Leonela Zusel Carabajal
LZ
Laboratorio de Genètica de Insectos de Importancia Económica IGEAF INTA Castelar, CP 1712, Buenos Aires, Argentina. leonela.carabajal@gmail.com
Papeschi
Alba Graciela
AG
Cladera
Jorge Luis
JL
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D011679:Pupa / Q000502:physiology; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*