title: Potential Host Manipulation by the Aphid Parasitoid Aphidius avenae to Enhance Cold Tolerance.
abstract: During parasitoid development, the immature parasitoid is confined to the host species. As a result, any potential to modify the physiology or behaviour of the host could play an important role in parasitoid fitness. The potential for host manipulation by the aphid parasitoid Aphidius avenae to increase cold thermotolerance was investigated using the aphid host species Metopolophium dirhodum and Sitobion avenae. Aphids were parasitized at L3/L4 instar stage (5 d old) and allowed to develop into pre-reproductive adults (10 d old) containing a 5 d old parasitoid larva. A control group was created of non-parasitized pre-reproductive adults (10 d old). The inherent physiological thermotolerance (LT50) and potential behavioural thermoregulation (behaviour in a declining temperature regime) of parasitized and non-parasitized aphids were investigated. Results revealed no effect of parasitism on the physiological thermotolerance of S. avenae and M. dirhodum. Significant differences in the behaviour of parasitized and non-parasitized aphids were observed, in addition to differences between host species, and such behaviours are discussed in view of the potential for host manipulation.
authors.affiliation: UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes I, Avenue du Général Leclerc, Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alford
authors.affiliation: UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes I, Avenue du Général Leclerc, Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Annabelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Androdias
authors.affiliation: UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes I, Avenue du Général Leclerc, Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes I, Avenue du Général Leclerc, Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.affiliation: UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes I, Avenue du Général Leclerc, Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burel
authors.affiliation: UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes I, Avenue du Général Leclerc, Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Baaren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000469:parasitology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva; D013559:Symbiosis; D014908:Triticum / Q000469:parasitology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology*