We report on the discovery of spider-hunting wasp Trypoxylon petiolatum (Crabronidae) nesting in three localities Province Girona (Catalonia, NE Spain) 2019 and 2021. This species is native to eastern Asia has not previously been reported from Europe. provide a detailed description species, as well information its nest architecture, cocoon shape, identity spiders captured provision nests, morta...

The Polydnaviridae (PDV), including the Bracovirus (BV) and Ichnovirus genera, originated from the integration of unrelated viruses in the genomes of two parasitoid wasp lineages, in a remarkable example of convergent evolution. Functionally active PDVs represent the most compelling evolutionary success among endogenous viral elements (EVEs). BV evolved from the domestication by braconid wasps ...

Maternally transmitted endosymbionts of insects are ubiquitous in nature and play diverse roles in the ecology and evolution of their hosts. To persist in host lineages, many symbionts manipulate host reproduction to their advantage (e.g. cytoplasmic incompatibility and male-killing), or confer fitness benefits to their hosts (e.g. metabolic provisioning and defense against natural enemies). Re...

Many insects possess a sexual communication system that is vulnerable to chemical espionage by parasitic wasps. We recently discovered that a hitch-hiking (H) egg parasitoid exploits the antiaphrodisiac pheromone benzyl cyanide (BC) of the Large Cabbage White butterfly Pieris brassicae. This pheromone is passed from male butterflies to females during mating to render them less attractive to con...

It has been reported that the aphelinid wasp Eertmocerus mundus parasitizes all four nymphal instars of the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Biotype B), with 3rd instars being the preferred hosts. The parasitoid lays its egg on the leaf underneath the host nymph. First instars hatch and later penetrate the whitefly. Previous studies have shown that the initiation of parasitoid penetration...

Accumulating evidence suggest that nonhuman organisms, including invertebrates, possess the ability to make non-random choices based purely on ongoing and endogenously-created neuronal processes. We study this precursor of spontaneity in cockroaches stung by A. compressa, a parasitoid wasp that employs cockroaches as a live food supply for its offspring. This wasp uses a neurotoxic venom cockta...

Abstract Drought events have the potential to mediate tri-trophic interactions. Changes in plant quality influence herbivore performance, which affects prey availability and for natural enemies. Parasitoid wasps are particularly vulnerable these changes since their development is inextricably linked that of prey. However, we know little about indirect effects water limitation on parasitoid espe...

Abstract Fopius arisanus is a parasitoid of Bactrocera fruit flies. In sub‐tropical Australia, it can cause >30% parasitism Queensland fly, tryoni . There has been minimal research effort globally, and none in to determine how the abundance this species be maintained increased through conservation biological control. We carried out three activities aimed at conserving landscape: (i) testing ...

The parasitoid wasp A. compressa hunts cockroaches as a live food supply for its offspring. The wasp selectively injects venom into the cerebral ganglia of the prey to induce long-term hypokinesia [1-5], during which the stung cockroach, although not paralyzed, does not initiate spontaneous walking and fails to escape aversive stimuli. This allows the wasp to grab the cockroach by the antenna a...