title: Interactions between the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis and the Parasitoid Dinocampus coccinellae.
abstract: Harmonia axyridis(Pallas) has been introduced either intentionally or accidentally in different areas outside its native range, where it is often regarded as invasive.Dinocampus coccinellae(Schrank) has been recorded to parasitizeH. axyridisin the field, both in the native and introduced areas, Italy included. The percent of parasitism found in our field investigation was low (four percent). The effect of exposure time ofH. axyridistoD. coccinellaeand the impact of parasitization on host longevity, oviposition capacity and egg fertility were evaluated in the laboratory. The acceptance and suitability ofH. axyridisas host forD. coccinellaewere then studied, in comparison with the native coccinellidAdalia bipunctata(L.), which shares the same ecological niche. The effects of parasitization on female longevity and reproduction capacity in the exotic vs. the indigenous lady beetle were also investigated. The overall results showed thatD. coccinellaenegatively affected the fitness ofH. axyridis, more than that ofA. bipunctata. The parasitoid may thus play a marginal role in controlling the populations of the Asian lady beetle, without representing a threat toA. bipunctata.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. marialuisa.dindo@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dindo
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. santolo.francati2@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Santolo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francati
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. alberto.lanzoni2@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. cinziadv84@libero.it.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: di Vitantonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. elisa.marchetti3@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. giovanni.burgio@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burgio
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. stefano.maini@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maini
keywords: Adalia bipunctata; Dinocampus coccinellae; Harmonia axyridis; biocontrol; exotic insect species; host-parasitoid interactions; native parasitoids