Negative phototaxis of jumping cocooned parasitoid wasp larvae against short wavelengths and physicochemical properties of the cocoon shell.

ABSTRACT: The parasitoid wasp Bathyplectes anurus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae) is a successful biocontrol agent against the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica. This weevil is a serious pest of beneficial fabaceous plants such as alfalfa and Chinese milk vetch. One of the possible reasons for the success of this wasp in hot climates may be the ability of its cocooned larvae to repeatedly jump and roll until they relocate themselves away from detrimental sunlight and heat. It is not yet known which wavelengths of light trigger this avoidance behavior or the microstructure of the cocoon shell that might allow light transmission. Here, the response of the cocooned larvae to different wavelengths, and the microstructure, hardness, and elemental components of the cocoon shell were studied. A po

SUBMITTER: Iwase SI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10261109 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature