Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum

Autores
Varone, Laura; Benda, Nicole; Guala, Mariel Eugenia; Martinez, Juan Jose; Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto
Año de publicación
2024
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is native to South America and has been used as a biocontrol agent of Opuntia (Cactaceae) in Australia and South Africa. Its invasion in North America has raised concerns for the native Opuntia in the USA and Mexico. We investigated the reproductive biology and rearing procedures of a host-specific potential biocontrol agent, Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez and Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Given the gregarious nature of the parasitoid larvae, we studied the morphology of the immature stages and evaluated evidence of polyembryony and superparasitism. We also investigated the effects of host exposure arena and host density on parasitism rates and wasp production. The morphological descriptions provide a basis for comparison with other species. Early larval instars of A. opuntiarum are similar to other microgastrine immature stages. However, the mature larva exhibits placoid sensilla in the epistomal region, a unique character not previously reported. We provide evidence that A. opuntiarum eggs are not polyembryonic; females frequently superparasitize and have an oviposition preference for larvae parasitized 1–2 d previously. Exposing larvae of C. cactorum to wasps while inside the cactus resulted in lower parasitism and fewer offspring from each host than exposing larvae in the arena without the cactus. Parasitism and mortality rates were higher at lower host densities, possibly due to reduced host group defensive behavior. These results suggest that preference for superparasitism, host defensive behavior, and interactions with the cactus may play an important role in per-host wasp production under laboratory conditions.
EEA Bariloche
Fil: Varone, Laura. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI); Argentina
Fil: Varone, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Benda, Nicole. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Division of Plant Industry; Estados Unidos
Fil: Guala, Mariel Eugenia. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI); Argentina
Fil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina.
Fil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); Argentina
Fil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); Argentina
Fil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fuente
Insects 15 (8) : 604. (August 2024)
Materia
Apanteles
Biological Control
Rearing Systems
Biological Control Agents
Parasitoids
Control Biológico
Sistemas de Cría
Agentes de Control Biológico
Parasitoides
Argentina
Cactoblastis cactorum
Apanteles opuntiarum
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/26956
Acceder
id INTADig_b6874c970f07ab9623455392f3c98669
oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/26956
network_acronym_str INTADig
repository_id_str l
network_name_str INTA Digital (INTA)
spelling Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorumVarone, LauraBenda, NicoleGuala, Mariel EugeniaMartinez, Juan JoseBruzzone, Octavio AugustoApantelesBiological ControlRearing SystemsBiological Control AgentsParasitoidsControl BiológicoSistemas de CríaAgentes de Control BiológicoParasitoidesArgentinaCactoblastis cactorumApanteles opuntiarumThe cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is native to South America and has been used as a biocontrol agent of Opuntia (Cactaceae) in Australia and South Africa. Its invasion in North America has raised concerns for the native Opuntia in the USA and Mexico. We investigated the reproductive biology and rearing procedures of a host-specific potential biocontrol agent, Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez and Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Given the gregarious nature of the parasitoid larvae, we studied the morphology of the immature stages and evaluated evidence of polyembryony and superparasitism. We also investigated the effects of host exposure arena and host density on parasitism rates and wasp production. The morphological descriptions provide a basis for comparison with other species. Early larval instars of A. opuntiarum are similar to other microgastrine immature stages. However, the mature larva exhibits placoid sensilla in the epistomal region, a unique character not previously reported. We provide evidence that A. opuntiarum eggs are not polyembryonic; females frequently superparasitize and have an oviposition preference for larvae parasitized 1–2 d previously. Exposing larvae of C. cactorum to wasps while inside the cactus resulted in lower parasitism and fewer offspring from each host than exposing larvae in the arena without the cactus. Parasitism and mortality rates were higher at lower host densities, possibly due to reduced host group defensive behavior. These results suggest that preference for superparasitism, host defensive behavior, and interactions with the cactus may play an important role in per-host wasp production under laboratory conditions.EEA BarilocheFil: Varone, Laura. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI); ArgentinaFil: Varone, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Benda, Nicole. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Division of Plant Industry; Estados UnidosFil: Guala, Mariel Eugenia. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI); ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina.Fil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); ArgentinaFil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); ArgentinaFil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaMDPI2026-07-07T14:23:44Z2026-07-07T14:23:44Z2024-08info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/26956https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/8/6042075-4450https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15080604Insects 15 (8) : 604. (August 2024)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2026-10-01T10:25:34Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/26956instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2026-10-01 10:25:34.733INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum
title Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum
spellingShingle Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum
Varone, Laura
Apanteles
Biological Control
Rearing Systems
Biological Control Agents
Parasitoids
Control Biológico
Sistemas de Cría
Agentes de Control Biológico
Parasitoides
Argentina
Cactoblastis cactorum
Apanteles opuntiarum
title_short Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum
title_full Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum
title_fullStr Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum
title_full_unstemmed Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum
title_sort Reproductive Biology and Rearing Improvements of Apanteles opuntiarum, Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Varone, Laura
Benda, Nicole
Guala, Mariel Eugenia
Martinez, Juan Jose
Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto
author Varone, Laura
author_facet Varone, Laura
Benda, Nicole
Guala, Mariel Eugenia
Martinez, Juan Jose
Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto
author_role author
author2 Benda, Nicole
Guala, Mariel Eugenia
Martinez, Juan Jose
Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Apanteles
Biological Control
Rearing Systems
Biological Control Agents
Parasitoids
Control Biológico
Sistemas de Cría
Agentes de Control Biológico
Parasitoides
Argentina
Cactoblastis cactorum
Apanteles opuntiarum
topic Apanteles
Biological Control
Rearing Systems
Biological Control Agents
Parasitoids
Control Biológico
Sistemas de Cría
Agentes de Control Biológico
Parasitoides
Argentina
Cactoblastis cactorum
Apanteles opuntiarum
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is native to South America and has been used as a biocontrol agent of Opuntia (Cactaceae) in Australia and South Africa. Its invasion in North America has raised concerns for the native Opuntia in the USA and Mexico. We investigated the reproductive biology and rearing procedures of a host-specific potential biocontrol agent, Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez and Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Given the gregarious nature of the parasitoid larvae, we studied the morphology of the immature stages and evaluated evidence of polyembryony and superparasitism. We also investigated the effects of host exposure arena and host density on parasitism rates and wasp production. The morphological descriptions provide a basis for comparison with other species. Early larval instars of A. opuntiarum are similar to other microgastrine immature stages. However, the mature larva exhibits placoid sensilla in the epistomal region, a unique character not previously reported. We provide evidence that A. opuntiarum eggs are not polyembryonic; females frequently superparasitize and have an oviposition preference for larvae parasitized 1–2 d previously. Exposing larvae of C. cactorum to wasps while inside the cactus resulted in lower parasitism and fewer offspring from each host than exposing larvae in the arena without the cactus. Parasitism and mortality rates were higher at lower host densities, possibly due to reduced host group defensive behavior. These results suggest that preference for superparasitism, host defensive behavior, and interactions with the cactus may play an important role in per-host wasp production under laboratory conditions.
EEA Bariloche
Fil: Varone, Laura. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI); Argentina
Fil: Varone, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Benda, Nicole. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Division of Plant Industry; Estados Unidos
Fil: Guala, Mariel Eugenia. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI); Argentina
Fil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Universidad Nacional de la Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina.
Fil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); Argentina
Fil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (IFAB); Argentina
Fil: Bruzzone, Octavio Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
description The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is native to South America and has been used as a biocontrol agent of Opuntia (Cactaceae) in Australia and South Africa. Its invasion in North America has raised concerns for the native Opuntia in the USA and Mexico. We investigated the reproductive biology and rearing procedures of a host-specific potential biocontrol agent, Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez and Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Given the gregarious nature of the parasitoid larvae, we studied the morphology of the immature stages and evaluated evidence of polyembryony and superparasitism. We also investigated the effects of host exposure arena and host density on parasitism rates and wasp production. The morphological descriptions provide a basis for comparison with other species. Early larval instars of A. opuntiarum are similar to other microgastrine immature stages. However, the mature larva exhibits placoid sensilla in the epistomal region, a unique character not previously reported. We provide evidence that A. opuntiarum eggs are not polyembryonic; females frequently superparasitize and have an oviposition preference for larvae parasitized 1–2 d previously. Exposing larvae of C. cactorum to wasps while inside the cactus resulted in lower parasitism and fewer offspring from each host than exposing larvae in the arena without the cactus. Parasitism and mortality rates were higher at lower host densities, possibly due to reduced host group defensive behavior. These results suggest that preference for superparasitism, host defensive behavior, and interactions with the cactus may play an important role in per-host wasp production under laboratory conditions.
publishDate 2024
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-08
2026-07-07T14:23:44Z
2026-07-07T14:23:44Z
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/26956
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/8/604
2075-4450
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15080604
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/26956
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/8/604
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15080604
identifier_str_mv 2075-4450
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Insects 15 (8) : 604. (August 2024)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
collection INTA Digital (INTA)
instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
_version_ 1877858341524340736
score 12.853507

Publicaciones similares