Chelonus inanitus (Braconidae) is a solitary egg-larval parasitoid which lays its eggs into eggs of Spodoptera littoralis (Noctuidae); the parasitoid larva then develops in the haemocoel of the host larva. Host embryonic development lasts approx. 3.5 days while parasitoid embryonic development lasts approx. 16 h. All stages of host eggs can be successfully parasitized, and we show here that eit...

Parasitoid wasps are important natural enemies of arthropod hosts in natural and agricultural ecosystems and are often associated with viruses or virion-like particles. Here, we report a novel negative-stranded RNA virus from a parasitoid wasp (Pteromalus puparum). The complete viral genome is 12,230 nucleotides in length, containing five non-overlapping, linearly arranged open reading frames. ...

Endosymbiotic bacteria in the genus Wolbachia have been linked to several types of reproductive parasitism, which enhance their own transmission, while their direct effects on the host vary from beneficial to neutral or detrimental. Here, we report negative effects of infection on immunity-related traits of Drosophila simulans and the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina heterotoma. Infected D. simulans...

Millions of years of co-evolution have driven parasites to display very complex and exquisite strategies to manipulate the behaviour of their hosts. However, although parasite-induced behavioural manipulation is a widespread phenomenon, the underlying neuronal mechanisms are only now beginning to be deciphered. Here, we review recent advancements in the study of the mechanisms by which parasito...

Combining a variety of large-scale, data-intensive techniques, a recent study has unraveled the neural pathways involved in Drosophila larval escape from a parasitoid wasp invasion.

Aprostocetus exertus La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) is described as a parasitoid of the invasive Erythrina Gall Wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae). The description is based on material originally collected in Tanzania and South Africa. This species is described because of its potential as a biological control agent against the Erythr...

Objective: In this study the efficacy of two agent of this biological control agent of corn stem borer in corn fields compared with common synthetic insecticides Endosolfan to find a suitable alternative for chemical control of pests in corn fields. Methods: In order to evaluate the efficiency of biocontrol agents of corn stem borer ,Ostrinia nubilalis, experiment was conducted in a ra...

Objective: In this study the efficacy of two agent of this biological control agent of corn stem borer in corn fields compared with common synthetic insecticides Endosolfan to find a suitable alternative for chemical control of pests in corn fields. Methods: In order to evaluate the efficiency of biocontrol agents of corn stem borer ,Ostrinia nubilalis, experiment was conducted in a ra...

Parasitoid diversity in terrestrial ecosystems is enormous. However, ecological processes underpinning their evolutionary diversification in association with other trophic groups are still unclear. Specialisation and interdependencies among chalcid wasps that reproduce on Ficus presents an opportunity to investigate the ecology of a multi-trophic system that includes parasitoids. Here we estima...