Life history, reproductive biology, and larval development of Ontsira mellipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a newly associated parasitoid of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae

Authors: GOLEC, JULIAN - University Of Delaware; Duan, Jian; HOUGH-GOLDSTEIN, JUDITH - University Of Delaware; Aparicio, Ellen

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2016
Publication Date: 6/21/2016
Citation: Golec, J.R., Duan, J.J., Hough-Goldstein, J., Aparicio, E.M. 2016. Life history, reproductive biology, and larval development of Ontsira mellipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a newly associated parasitoid of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae. Journal of Economic Entomology. 109(4):1545-1554. doi: 10.1093/jee/tow122.

Interpretive Summary: Understanding the biology and life history of insect natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) is critical to the development of effective biological control programs against agricultural and forest arthropod pests. The parasitic wasp (Ontsira mellipes) is a North American parasitic wasp that has been found successfully attacking the invasive Asian longhornged beetle (ALB, Anoplophora glabripennis), which poses a serious threat to numerous urban and forest hardwood tree species in the United States. This parasitic wasp is a new ALB natural enemy and is being considered for mass-rearing and field releases against ALB in the U.S. However, little is known about the biology, life history and possible laboratory rearing method of this natural enemy newly associated with ALB. Using ALB larvae reared with freshly cut mapple (Acer spp.) sticks, researchers from the University of Delaware and USDA ARS Beneficial Insects Research Unit characterized the developmental time and stages of this parasitic wasp in the laboratory under normal rearing conditions. Our study showed that this wasp took approximately three weeks to complete a single generation (from egg to adult) under laboratory rearing conditions. Results from our study showed that this wasp could be effectively reared with ALB larvae inserted inside maple sticks. There were no differences in the median longevity of males versus females when either starved or fed. This information is useful to the development of effective rearing programs for mass production of this parasitic wasp for biological control of emerald ash borers in the US.

Technical Abstract: The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), is an invasive xylophagous beetle originating from Asia. Several endemic North American hymenopteran (Braconidae) species located in the mid-Atlantic region were found attacking and reproducing on A. glabripennis larvae. Ontsira mellipes Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) has been continually reared in quarantine on A. glabripennis larvae at the USDA-ARS Beneficial Insect Introduction Research Unit since 2010, and has been identified as a potential new-association biocontrol agent. Two experiments were conducted to investigate parasitism, paralysis, reproductive biology, and larval development of O. mellipes when reared on A. glabripennis larvae under laboratory conditions. Adult parasitoids parasitized approximately 21% of beetle larvae presented to them throughout their life, and paralysis of larvae occurred around 48 h after oviposition. More than half of females exposed in single pairs of adult parasitoids parasitized A. glabripennis larvae, with each female producing an average of about 26 offspring throughout her life. Median development time of O. mellipes from egg to adult was about 3 weeks, with five larval instars. Collectively, adults that were provided with an A. glabripennis larva every 2 d in addition to honey and water lived significantly longer than starved adults. There were no differences in the median longevity of males versus females when either starved or fed.