The ability of selected pupal parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to locate stable fly hosts in a soiled equine bedding substrate.
Abstract: The ability of Spalangia cameroni Perkins, Spalangia endius Walker, and Muscidifurax raptorellus Kogan and Legner to locate and attack stable fly hosts was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Postfeeding third-instar stable fly larvae were released and allowed to pupate in two arena types: large 4.8 liter chambers containing a field-collected, soiled equine bedding substrate; or 120-ml plastic cups containing wood chips. At the time of fly pupariation, parasitoids were released and permitted 72 h to locate and attack hosts. On average, parasitism rates of freely accessible stable fly pupae in cups were not significantly different between parasitoid species. However, parasitism rates in chambers containing either Spalangia spp. were ≈50-fold more than M. raptorellus. Additional intraspecies analysis revealed that parasitism rates both by S. cameroni and S. endius were not significantly different when pupae were freely accessible or within bedding, whereas M. raptorellus attacked significantly more pupae in cups than in the larger chambers where hosts were distributed within bedding. These results suggest that Spalangia spp. are more suited to successfully locate and attack hosts in habitats created by equine husbandry in Florida. Therefore, commercially available parasitoid mixtures containing Muscidifurax spp. may be ineffective if used as a control measure at Florida equine facilities.
© 2011 Entomological Society of America
Publication Date: 2011-12-21 PubMed ID: 22182616DOI: 10.1603/EN10124Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The study evaluates the ability of select parasitic wasps to locate and attack stable fly larva, a common pest in equine facilities, in different habitats under controlled conditions. It suggests that certain species are better suited for this task which could be useful in developing pest control measures in equine facilities in Florida.
Study Overview
- The research aimed to asses the efficiency of three different species of parasitoid wasps in locating and attacking stable fly hosts in two distinct laboratory setups.
- The parasitoid wasps that were studied in this research included Spalangia cameroni Perkins, Spalangia endius Walker, and Muscidifurax raptorellus Kogan and Legner.
- The first laboratory setting involved large chambers filled with soiled equine bedding collected from the field, while the second environment used wood chips in small plastic cups. The stable fly larvae were then introduced to these conditions
Parasitic Behavior of Different Species
- The study found there was no significant difference in parasitism rates (the degree to which the wasps were able to locate and attack the stable fly pupae) among the parasitoid wasps in the smaller cup setting.
- However, the Spalangia species were much more successful in the larger chambers with the soiled bedding, showing parasitism rates that were 50 times higher than the Muscidifurax raptorellus.
Practical Application and Recommendations
- These findings suggest the Spalangia species were better able to locate and attack the stable fly hosts in conditions that are typically found in Florida’s equine industry, and therefore may be more effective for pest control in these settings.
- The research concludes that products that offer a mixture of parasitoid wasps that include the Muscidifurax species may not be as effective when used in Florida’s equine facilities. The Muscidifurax raptorellus demonstrated lesser efficiency in simulation of equine habitats as per this study.
Cite This Article
APA
Pitzer JB, Kaufman PE, Geden CJ, Hogsette JA.
(2011).
The ability of selected pupal parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to locate stable fly hosts in a soiled equine bedding substrate.
Environ Entomol, 40(1), 88-93.
https://doi.org/10.1603/EN10124 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, 970 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Female
- Florida
- Horses
- Muscidae / growth & development
- Muscidae / parasitology
- Oviposition
- Pest Control, Biological
- Population Dynamics
- Pupa / growth & development
- Pupa / parasitology
- Wasps / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Machtinger ET, Leppla NC, Hogsette JA. House and Stable Fly Seasonal Abundance, Larval Development Substrates, and Natural Parasitism on Small Equine Farms in Florida. Neotrop Entomol 2016 Aug;45(4):433-40.
- King BH, Colyott KL, Chesney AR. Livestock bedding effects on two species of parasitoid wasps of filth flies. J Insect Sci 2014;14:185.
- Frederickx C, Dekeirsschieter J, Verheggen FJ, Haubruge E. Depth and type of substrate influence the ability of Nasonia vitripennis to locate a host. J Insect Sci 2014 May 1;14:58.
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