An experimental test of potential host range in the ant parasitoid Apocephalus paraponerae

Abstract

Summary 1. The work reported here tested experimentally whether specialisation in Apocephalus paraponerae was due to physiological interactions that limit the parasitoid to the host ant Paraponera clavata. The suitability of other ant species as hosts was tested, and behavioural traits that may promote a high degree of specificity within this host–parasitoid system are discussed. 2. Data for development time, number of puparia, and adult eclosion success for A. paraponerae ovipositing in the regular host P. clavata are provided. A new method for testing host suitability in parasitoids of ants is described. Eggs of A. paraponerae were transferred directly into potential ant hosts. The development time, number of puparia, and adults eclosed for the eggs transferred into other ant host species are compared with comparable data from P. clavata. 3. Seven ant species within the Ponerinae are suitable for the development of A. paraponerae. The potential host range is greater than the actual host range of A. paraponerae. Flies are not limited solely by host suitability of related ant species for the development of larvae. Host location and acceptance behaviours are proposed as the primary reasons for host specialisation. The large size of the primary host P. clavata, and the ability of multiple females to raise many offspring successfully from those hosts may influence the specialisation of A. paraponerae on P. clavata.

Phylogenetic determinants of potential host shifts in fungal pathogens

“…We showed that the infection success of a novel host was negatively correlated with genetic distance between that inoculated host and the pathogen's host-of-origin. This result is in accordance with studies on other organisms (Futuyma et al, 1995;Reed & Hafner, 1997;Nishiguchi et al, 1998;Morehead & Feener, 2000;Gilbert & Webb, 2007;Refré gier et al, 2008). We also showed that the infection success on new hosts was negatively correlated with genetic distance between pathogen used as inoculum and the pathogen found naturally on the target host, and that this effect was, at least partly, independent of the host phylogeny effect.…”

Phylogenetic determinants of potential host shifts in fungal pathogens

“…We showed that the infection success of a novel host was negatively correlated with genetic distance between that inoculated host and the pathogen's host-of-origin. This result is in accordance with studies on other organisms (Futuyma et al, 1995;Reed & Hafner, 1997;Nishiguchi et al, 1998;Morehead & Feener, 2000;Gilbert & Webb, 2007;Refré gier et al, 2008). We also showed that the infection success on new hosts was negatively correlated with genetic distance between pathogen used as inoculum and the pathogen found naturally on the target host, and that this effect was, at least partly, independent of the host phylogeny effect.…”

Methods Used to Assess Non-target Effects of Invertebrate Biological Control Agents of Arthropod Pests

“…Froud and Stephens (2003) concluded that parasitism of S. aotearoana may indeed be an artefact of confinement and that this non-target will not be parasitised in the field. Furthermore, it suggests that physiological host range is often (much) greater than ecological host range; a fact that has also been stated by others (Morehead and Feener, 2000;Louda et al, 2003a). We believe that the approach of Froud et al (2003) could be a step forward in assessing the ecological host range in pre-release studies.…”

Geographical transition zone of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pseudacteon fly parasitoids (Diptera: Phoridae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Although the development of Pseudacteon flies on non-host fire ants species is possible under laboratory conditions, the approach and attack rates are reduced compared with local fire ant species (Folgarait et al 2002, Folgarait et al 2005b. Ecological and behavioral factors are considered as so or more important as physiological and taxonomic limitations in the determination of the host range in other groups of parasitoids (Whitfield & Wagner 1988, Morehead & Feener Jr 2000, Stireman & Singer 2003.…”

Phylogenetic determinants of potential host shifts in fungal pathogens

“…We showed that the infection success of a novel host was negatively correlated with genetic distance between that inoculated host and the pathogen's host-of-origin. This result is in accordance with studies on other organisms (Futuyma et al, 1995;Reed & Hafner, 1997;Nishiguchi et al, 1998;Morehead & Feener, 2000;Gilbert & Webb, 2007;Refré gier et al, 2008). We also showed that the infection success on new hosts was negatively correlated with genetic distance between pathogen used as inoculum and the pathogen found naturally on the target host, and that this effect was, at least partly, independent of the host phylogeny effect.…”

Methods Used to Assess Non-target Effects of Invertebrate Biological Control Agents of Arthropod Pests

“…Froud and Stephens (2003) concluded that parasitism of S. aotearoana may indeed be an artefact of confinement and that this non-target will not be parasitised in the field. Furthermore, it suggests that physiological host range is often (much) greater than ecological host range; a fact that has also been stated by others (Morehead and Feener, 2000;Louda et al, 2003a). We believe that the approach of Froud et al (2003) could be a step forward in assessing the ecological host range in pre-release studies.…”

Geographical transition zone of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pseudacteon fly parasitoids (Diptera: Phoridae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Although the development of Pseudacteon flies on non-host fire ants species is possible under laboratory conditions, the approach and attack rates are reduced compared with local fire ant species (Folgarait et al 2002, Folgarait et al 2005b. Ecological and behavioral factors are considered as so or more important as physiological and taxonomic limitations in the determination of the host range in other groups of parasitoids (Whitfield & Wagner 1988, Morehead & Feener Jr 2000, Stireman & Singer 2003.…”

Phylogenetic determinants of potential host shifts in fungal pathogens

“…We showed that the infection success of a novel host was negatively correlated with genetic distance between that inoculated host and the pathogen's host-of-origin. This result is in accordance with studies on other organisms (Futuyma et al, 1995;Reed & Hafner, 1997;Nishiguchi et al, 1998;Morehead & Feener, 2000;Gilbert & Webb, 2007;Refré gier et al, 2008). We also showed that the infection success on new hosts was negatively correlated with genetic distance between pathogen used as inoculum and the pathogen found naturally on the target host, and that this effect was, at least partly, independent of the host phylogeny effect.…”

Methods Used to Assess Non-target Effects of Invertebrate Biological Control Agents of Arthropod Pests

“…Froud and Stephens (2003) concluded that parasitism of S. aotearoana may indeed be an artefact of confinement and that this non-target will not be parasitised in the field. Furthermore, it suggests that physiological host range is often (much) greater than ecological host range; a fact that has also been stated by others (Morehead and Feener, 2000;Louda et al, 2003a). We believe that the approach of Froud et al (2003) could be a step forward in assessing the ecological host range in pre-release studies.…”

Geographical transition zone of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pseudacteon fly parasitoids (Diptera: Phoridae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Although the development of Pseudacteon flies on non-host fire ants species is possible under laboratory conditions, the approach and attack rates are reduced compared with local fire ant species (Folgarait et al 2002, Folgarait et al 2005b. Ecological and behavioral factors are considered as so or more important as physiological and taxonomic limitations in the determination of the host range in other groups of parasitoids (Whitfield & Wagner 1988, Morehead & Feener Jr 2000, Stireman & Singer 2003.…”