Developmental patterns in the polyembryonic parasitoid wasp Copidosoma koehleri

Michal Segoli, Amos Bouskila, Ally R. Harari, Tamar Keasar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Polyembryony is a unique mode of development in which multiple genetically identical embryos develop from a single egg. In some polyembryonic species a proportion of the embryos develop into soldier larvae, which attack competitors in the host. We studied the development of the polyembryonic wasp Copidosoma koehleri in its host Phthorimaea opercullela. We dissected hosts parasitized by either virgin or mated female wasps at 2 day intervals from hatching to the final instars. We documented host mass and head width, the number and size of developing wasps and the presence of a soldier larva. Additionally, we kept a sample of parasitized hosts until emergence of wasps and measured the head width of emerging adults. We characterized wasp development in relation to host development. One half of the broods produced by mated wasps contained one soldier larva throughout development. This suggests that in C. koehleri each female brood produces a single soldier larva, and that the soldier probably survives and grows gradually during host development. Additionally, we found that female broods were larger than male broods during development and also upon emergence. Accordingly, body size was larger for males during development as well as upon emergence. These findings may extend the existing knowledge on polyembryonic development in general, and serve as a baseline for further experiments.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)84-90
Number of pages7
JournalArthropod Structure and Development
Volume38
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Ori Becher, Sara Baranes, Adi Sadeh, Daphna Gottlieb and Jay Rosenheim for assistance and discussions. This research was supported by THE ISRAEL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (grant No. 184/06).

Keywords

  • Brood size
  • Copidosoma koehleri
  • Host parasite interactions
  • Phthorimaea opercullela
  • Polyembryony
  • Soldier caste

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Insect Science

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