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Effects of host ( Boettcherisca peregrina ) copper exposure on development, reproduction and vitellogenesis of the ectoparasitic wasp, Nasonia vitripennis
Author(s) -
Ye GongYin,
Dong ShengZhang,
Dong Hui,
Hu Cui,
Shen ZhiCheng,
Cheng JiaAn
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
insect science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1744-7917
pISSN - 1672-9609
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2009.00252.x
Subject(s) - nasonia vitripennis , biology , fecundity , vitellogenesis , parasitoid , pteromalidae , host (biology) , zoology , botany , hymenoptera , reproduction , ecology , oocyte , population , fishery , embryo , demography , sociology
Abstract Effects of copper (Cu) accumulation by the flesh fly Boettcherisca peregrina (R.‐D.) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) on the ectoparasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were investigated experimentally by exposing host larvae to contaminated diets with final Cu concentrations of 400 μg/g and 800 μg/g diet fresh weight (DFW), respectively. Results showed that Cu can be transferred along food chains to secondary consumers (parasitoids) in small amounts, resulting in negative effects on parasitoid growth and development (body weight and developmental duration) as well as fecundity (number of offspring per female). Copper exposure also inhibited vitellogenesis of parasitoids from Cu‐contaminated host pupae. It is suggested that the decreased fecundity and inhibition of vitellogenesis of N. vitripennis resulted from poor host nutritional state rather than from direct effects of Cu stress.