Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Biological Control of Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #65073
Title: DEVELOPMENTAL ARRESTANT ISOLATED FROM THE VENOM OF EUPLECTRUS COMSTOCKII

Author
item Coudron, Thomas
item BRANDT, SANDRA - UNIV OF MISSOURI

Submitted to: National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/17/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The larval ectoparasitoid Euplectrus comstockii Howard (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) arrests larval-larval ecdysis in its lepidopteran hosts. Prior to oviposition the female wasp injects a venom into the hemocoel of the host and that venom alone is effective in causing the arrestment. A venom gland/reservoir structure connected to the lower reproductive tract of the wasp contains a complex mixture of proteins. There are no obvious similarities among the electrophoretic banding pattern (native or denatured) for venom proteins of E. comstockii and several other parasitic hymenopteran species. Venomous protein, separated by electrophoretic techniques, with a native molecular weight of ca. 66,000 kDa, was capable of arresting larval-larval ecdysis in fourth instar larvae of Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Nanogram quantities of the protein were sufficient to cause arrestment. The activity of the protein was temperature, pH, organic solvent, and protease sensitive.