The Population Dynamics of a Nonlethal Parasitoid: Trichopoda pennipes and Nezara viridula

泰勒拟寄生物是一种昆虫，雌性在其他昆虫体内或身上产卵，然后被拟寄生物幼虫吃掉。在大多数物种中，寄主在未成熟阶段受到攻击，并在达到生殖成熟之前被杀死。然而，许多种类的蝇类寄生蜂会攻击成年寄主，而成年寄主在被杀死之前通常会进行繁殖。这个项目将描述这样一种物种，Trichopoda pennipes，对其宿主南方绿臭虫的非致命寄生。将利用实验室实验和野外采集的被寄生寄主的饲养来描述寄生对寄主死亡率和繁殖以及对寄生蜂繁殖成功的影响，这些影响与寄主被寄生时的年龄和在其上产卵的寄生蜂数量等因素有关。还将确定寄生蜂对不同年龄寄主的偏好。这些过程对寄生-寄主系统种群动态的可能影响将用数学模型进行分析。寄生蜂是农业和其他生态系统中防治害虫的重要来源。在这些研究中使用的寄主物种是世界范围内重要的农业害虫，而拟寄主物种经常被用作生物防治剂，尽管成功率有限。这项研究将有助于更好地了解影响这种寄生蜂和其他寄生蜂控制宿主能力的因素，特别是非致命性寄生蜂。这方面的知识将提高生物虫害防治工作的有效性，从而减少我们对化学杀虫剂的依赖。

9509738 Taylor Parasitoids are insect species in which females lay eggs in or on other insects, which then are eaten by the parasitoid larvae. In most species the hosts are attacked in immature stages and are killed before reaching reproductive maturity. Many species of fly parasitoids, however, attack adult hosts, which often reproduce before being killed. This project will describe such nonlethal parasitism by one such species, Trichopoda pennipes, on its host, the southern green stink bug. Laboratory experiments and rearing of parasitized hosts from field collections will be used to describe the effects of parasitism on host mortality and reproduction and on the success of parasitoid reproduction, in relation to factors such as the age of the host when parasitized and the number of parasitoid eggs laid on it. Preferences of parasitoids for hosts of different ages also will be determined. The probable effects of these processes on the population dynamics of the parasitoid-host system will be analyzed with mathematical models. Parasitoids are important sources of pest control in agricultural and other ecological systems. The host species to be used in these studies is an important agricultural pest worldwide, and the parasitoid specie has often been used as a biological control agent for it, though with limited success. This research will lead to better understanding of factors, particularly non-lethal parasitism, affecting the ability of this and other parasitoids to control their hosts. This knowledge should enhance the effectiveness of biological pest control efforts and thus reduce our dependence on chemical insecticides.