Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory
Title: Geographic and Seasonal Variation in Species Diversity and Community Composition of Frugivorous Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and their Leptopilina (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) ParasitoidsAuthor
LUE, CHIA-HUA - University Of Maryland | |
BOROWY, DOROTHY - University Of Maryland | |
Buffington, Matthew | |
LIEPS, JEFF - University Of Maryland |
Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2018 Publication Date: 8/29/2018 Citation: Lue, C., Borowy, D., Buffington, M.L., Lieps, J. 2018. Geographic and Seasonal Variation in Species Diversity and Community Composition of Frugivorous Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and their Leptopilina (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) Parasitoids. Environmental Entomology. 47:1096-1106. Interpretive Summary: Parasitoid wasps are potent natural enemies of many species of pest insect and are critical elements in biological control research. The distribution and adaptation of parasitoid wasp species is a key to the success of biological control. This paper reviews species belonging to a genus that is a major natural enemy of fruit flies around the world, including the invasive spotted wing Drosophila. Research entomologists, biological control workers, extension agents, and APHIS cooperators worldwide will find this research product essential for their own work. Technical Abstract: Geographic and temporal variation in the composition of communities should produce variation in species interactions, potentially resulting in diverse patterns of evolution in interacting species across their range. To begin to examine this question, we documented the extent of variation in Drosophila host and their Leptoplina parasitoid communities across a broad geographic range and at different times of year and describe the relationship between host-parasitoid species diversity and community structure. |