Universidad Politécnica Salesiana Sede Quito

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Universidad Politécnica Salesiana Sede Quito UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA SALESIANA SEDE QUITO CARRERA: INGENIERÍA EN BIOTECNOLOGÍA DE LOS RECURSOS NATURALES Trabajo de titulación previo a la obtención del título de: INGENIERO EN BIOTECNOLOGÍA DE LOS RECURSOS NATURALES TEMA: GENERACIÓN DE CÓDIGOS DE BARRAS MOLECULARES PARA DÍPTEROS DE LA FAMILIA PHORIDAE REGISTRADOS EN TRES LOCALIDADES DEL NOROCCIDENTE DE ECUADOR AUTOR: RONALD DANIEL TOAPANTA MOROCHO TUTORA: GERMANIA MARGARITA KAROLYS GUTIÉRREZ Quito, enero del 2018 Dedicatoria A Dios, Por guiar mi vida y ayudarme a superar todas las adversidades que se han presentado durante el transcurso de la carrera. A mis padres Carlos Toapanta y Rebeca Morocho, Quienes no solamente se han esforzado dándome una buena educación, sino que además me han sabido infundir valores que me han hecho crecer como persona, y principalmente les dedico este trabajo por ser mi fuente de inspiración a todo momento. A mis hermanos Stalin, Darío, Samira, Alexandra Quienes han estado presentes en cada etapa de mi vida brindándome alegrías, consejos, y sobretodo cariño. Por estar conmigo en los buenos y malo momentos. A mi querido sobrino Julián, Quien ocupa una gran parte de mi corazón, y ha compartido conmigo gratos momentos llenos de risas, enojos, y locuras que no los cambiaría por nada del mundo. A María José, Por ser mi cómplice, confidente y compañera incondicional durante gran parte de mi carrera universitaria, por siempre alentarme con su amor y creer en mí a todo momento. Agradecimientos Un especial y afectivo agradecimiento a Adrián Troya, por permitirme formar parte de su equipo de investigación, por creer en mis capacidades y guiarme con sus consejos y conocimientos durante la consecución de gran parte este trabajo, siendo un excelente profesional y amigo digno de admirar. A mi tutora, Germania Karolys, por su guía y disposición a todo momento en el desarrollo de este trabajo, y sobre todo por depositar su confianza en mí, abriéndome las puertas al camino de la investigación. A mis profesores de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana: María Fernanda Guevara, Janss Beltrán, Nancy Bonifaz, Fabián Bersosa por su colaboración, enseñanzas y sobre todo por guiar gran parte de mi carrera profesional. Al Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas (ICB-EPN) y Departamento de Metalurgia Extractiva de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (DEMEX), y al Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Museo de Zoología de la Pontificia Universidad Católica, por permitirme hacer uso de sus instalaciones y equipos, además de brindarme una cálida acogida y guía por gran parte de su personal de trabajo. A todos mis amigos y demás personas que me brindaron su guía y conocimientos, especialmente a Alex Achig, Raquel Vargas, Byron Fuertes, Diego Mallitasig, Jonathan García y Francisco López. Índice Introducción ............................................................................................................1 Capítulo 1 ................................................................................................................4 Marco conceptual ....................................................................................................4 1.1. Biodiversidad ..............................................................................................4 1.2. Bosques nublados .......................................................................................4 1.2.1. Bosques nublados de Ecuador ..............................................................5 1.2.2. Amenazas que enfrentan los bosques nublados ....................................8 1.3. Dípteros: Familia Phoridae..........................................................................9 1.3.1. Aspectos generales ..............................................................................9 1.3.2. Características morfológicas .............................................................. 10 1.3.3. Clasificación taxonómica ................................................................... 12 1.3.4. Importancia ecológica ........................................................................ 14 1.4. Técnicas de análisis de ADN en sistemática molecular.............................. 15 1.4.1. Reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) ....................................... 15 1.4.2. Códigos de barras de ADN ................................................................ 17 Capítulo 2 .............................................................................................................. 19 Marco metodológico .............................................................................................. 19 2.1. Especímenes y localización geográfica del estudio........................................ 19 2.2. Análisis morfológico .................................................................................... 20 2.3. Análisis molecular ........................................................................................ 22 2.3.1. Extracción de ADN ................................................................................ 23 2.3.2. Amplificación ........................................................................................ 24 2.3.3. Obtención de secuencias y análisis ......................................................... 25 Capítulo 3 .............................................................................................................. 28 Resultados y Discusión .......................................................................................... 28 3.1. Análisis morfológico de géneros y morfoespecies de Phoridae ...................... 28 3.2. Análisis molecular de morfoespecies de Phoridae ......................................... 43 3.2.1. Extracción de ADN ................................................................................ 43 3.2.2. Amplificación de CO1............................................................................ 44 3.2.3. Análisis y características de las secuencias ............................................. 46 Conclusiones .......................................................................................................... 59 Recomendaciones .................................................................................................. 60 Referencias ............................................................................................................ 61 Anexos ................................................................................................................... 76 Índice de tablas Tabla 1. Sitios específicos en donde se hizo la recolección de especímenes……….20 Tabla 2. Caracteres morfológicos de individuos de Phoridae medidos en micrómetros (µm) ....................................................................................................................... 22 Tabla 3. Cebadores universales utilizados para la amplificación de una región del gen CO1 ........................................................................................................................ 24 Tabla 4. Número de especies e individuos de géneros de la familia Phoridae en Ecuador. ................................................................................................................. 30 Tabla 5. Distancias genéticas dentro de grupos de Phoridae identificados en el presente estudio. ..................................................................................................... 48 Índice de figuras Figura 1. Caracteres diagnósticos de la familia Phoridae ........................................ 11 Figura 2. Diferencias entre macho y hembra en los segmentos terminales .............. 12 Figura 3. Clasificación taxonómica de la familia Phoridae ..................................... 13 Figura 4. Lugares de muestreo en el Noroccidente de Ecuador ............................... 19 Figura 5. Número de morfoespecies por géneroC ................................................... 29 Figura 6. Número de individuos por morfoespecie ................................................. 30 Figura 7. Geles de electroforesis de CO1 amplificados con LCO1490 y HCO2198…... ............................................................................................................................... 45 Figura 8. Gel de electroforesis de CO1 amplificados con C1-J-1632 y C1-N-2191…… ............................................................................................................................... 46 Figura 9. Histograma de distancias interespecíficas vs distancias intraespecíficas……. ............................................................................................................................... 49 Figura 10. Árbol filogenético de máxima verosimilitud de Metopininae y Phorinae ............................................................................................................................... 53 Figura 11. Árbol filogenético por el método bayesiano de la Subfamilia Metopininae ............................................................................................................................... 56 Figura 12. Árbol filogenético por el método bayesiano de la Subfamilia Phorinae……. ............................................................................................................................... 58 Índice de anexos Anexo 1. Lista de caracteres morfológicos de la familia Phoridae, revisados en el presente estudio ...................................................................................................... 76 Anexo 2. Ubicación de los caracteres morfológicos tomados en cuenta
Recommended publications
  • Phorid Fly, Pseudacteon Tricuspis, Response to Alkylpyrazine Analogs
    Journal of Insect Physiology 57 (2011) 939–944 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Insect Physiology jo urnal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jinsphys Phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis, response to alkylpyrazine analogs of a fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, alarm pheromone a b a, Kavita Sharma , Robert K. Vander Meer , Henry Y. Fadamiro * a Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA b Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: The phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier, is a parasitoid of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis Received 11 February 2011 invicta Buren. This fly has been reported to use fire ant chemicals, specifically venom alkaloids and Received in revised form 5 April 2011 possibly alarm pheromone to locate its host. A recent study identified 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine as a Accepted 7 April 2011 component of the alarm pheromone of S. invicta. To determine the possible involvement of this fire ant alarm pheromone component in mediating fire ant-phorid fly interactions, we tested electroantenno- Keywords: gram (EAG) and behavioral responses of P. tricuspis females to the commercially available mixture of 2- Pseudacteon tricuspis ethyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine and its 3,5-dimethyl isomer, as well as six structurally related alkylpyrazine Solenopsis invicta analogs at varying doses. Pseudacteon tricuspis females showed significant EAG response to 2-ethyl- Electroantennogram (EAG) Olfactometer 3,6(or 5)-dimethyl pyrazine (herein referred to as pheromone-isomer) at all doses, 0.001–10 mg.
    [Show full text]
  • Range Expansion of the Fire Ant Decapitating Fly, Pseudacteon Tricuspis, Eight to Nine Years After Releases in North Florida
    536 Florida Entomologist 89(4) December 2006 RANGE EXPANSION OF THE FIRE ANT DECAPITATING FLY, PSEUDACTEON TRICUSPIS, EIGHT TO NINE YEARS AFTER RELEASES IN NORTH FLORIDA ROBERTO M. PEREIRA AND SANFORD D. PORTER Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida, 32608, USA Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier (Diptera: tions where fire ants were abundant. Geographi- Phoridae) was the first decapitating fly species re- cal coordinates of the surveyed locations were de- leased in the United States as a biological control termined with GPS equipment (GPS V, Garmin In- agent against imported Solenopsis fire ants. ternational, Inc., Olathe, KS), and survey loca- Early releases were made in and around Gaines- tions were mapped by ArcGIS (ESRI, Redlands, ville, FL on several occasions between Jul 1997 CA). and Nov 1999. The flies originated from collec- In Nov 2005, P. tricuspis were observed in tions made in Jaguariúna, State of São Paulo, East-Central Florida in Seminole Co. near San- Brazil in 1996 (Porter & Alonso 1999; Porter et al. ford, FL, at a distance of approximately 145 km 2004). Release methods varied and flies were ei- from the release sites around Gainesville (Fig. 1). ther introduced into the field as adult flies or as This represents an average expansion rate of ap- immatures in parasitized fire ant workers. By the proximately 26 km/year since the fall of 2001. In fall of 2001, the decapitating flies had expanded the northeast direction from the release sites, 35-60 km from the release sites, and occupied ap- flies were observed up to 275 km away, close to the proximately 8100 km2 (Porter et al.
    [Show full text]
  • PARASITISMO NATURAL E ABUNDÂNCIA DE FORÍDEOS PARASITOIDES DE Atta Sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) EM ÁREAS DE VEGETAÇÃO NATURAL E AGRÍCOLAS
    PARASITISMO NATURAL E ABUNDÂNCIA DE FORÍDEOS PARASITOIDES DE Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) EM ÁREAS DE VEGETAÇÃO NATURAL E AGRÍCOLAS ALEXANDRE ROGER DE ARAÚJO GALVÃO UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DO NORTE FLUMINENSE DARCY RIBEIRO CAMPOS DOS GOYTACAZES - RJ ABRIL - 2016 PARASITISMO NATURAL E ABUNDÂNCIA DE FORÍDEOS PARASITOIDES DE Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) EM ÁREAS DE VEGETAÇÃO NATURAL E AGRÍCOLAS ALEXANDRE ROGER DE ARAÚJO GALVÃO Dissertação apresentada ao Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias da Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, como parte das exigências para obtenção do título de Mestrado em Produção Vegetal. Orientador: Prof.Dr.Omar Eduardo Bailez CAMPOS DOS GOYTACAZES – RJ ABRIL– 2016 1 FICHA CATALOGRÁFICA Preparada pela Biblioteca do CCTA / UENF 129/2016 Galvão, Alexandre Roger de Araújo Parasitismo natural e abundância de forídeos parasitoides de Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Formicidade) em áreas de vegetação natural e agrícolas / Alexandre Roger de Araújo Galvão. – Campos dos Goytacazes, 2016. 82 f. : il. Dissertação (Mestrado em Produção Vegetal) -- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro. Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias. Laboratório de Fitopatologia e Entomologia. Campos dos Goytacazes, 2016. Orientador: Omar Eduardo Bailez. Área de concentração: Comportamento de Insetos Bibliografia: f. 63-80. 1. MYRMOSICARIUS 2. APOCEPHALUS 3. EIBESFELDTPHORA 4. FORMIGA CORTADEIRA 5. RAZÃO SEXUAL I. Universidade Estadual
    [Show full text]
  • Biological Control of Red Imported Fire
    University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 12-2014 Biological Control of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) Using Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) in Central Arkansas Sim Mckague Barrow University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Barrow, Sim Mckague, "Biological Control of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) Using Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) in Central Arkansas" (2014). Theses and Dissertations. 2058. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2058 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Biological Control of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) Using Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) in Central Arkansas Biological Control of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) Using Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) in Central Arkansas A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Entomology by Sim McKague Barrow Arkansas Tech University Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, 2011 December 2014 University of Arkansas This thesis is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. ______________________________ Dr. Kelly M. Loftin Thesis Director ______________________________ ______________________________ Dr. Fred M. Stephen Dr. Sanford Porter Committee Member Committee Member Abstract Red imported fire ants are major pests in the southeastern United States. As a part of an integrated pest management strategy, a biological control program has been implemented which includes Pseudacteon decapitating flies. These flies are parasitoids of fire ant workers and two species of Pseudacteon are established in Arkansas: Pseudacteon tricuspis and Pseudacteon curvatus.
    [Show full text]
  • Eclosion, Mating, and Grooming Behavior of the Parasitoid Fly Pseudacteon Curvatus (Diptera: Phoridae)
    Wuellner et al.: Phorid Fly Behavior 563 ECLOSION, MATING, AND GROOMING BEHAVIOR OF THE PARASITOID FLY PSEUDACTEON CURVATUS (DIPTERA: PHORIDAE) CLARE T. WUELLNER1, SANFORD D. PORTER2 AND LAWRENCE E. GILBERT1 1Section of Integrative Biology, Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Fire Ant Laboratory University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712 2USDA-ARS, Center for Medical Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, P.O. Box 14565 Gainesville, FL 32604 ABSTRACT Phorid flies from the genus Pseudacteon are parasitoids of Solenopsis ants. Recent efforts of controlling imported fire ants in the United States have focused on rearing and releasing these flies as biocontrol agents. We studied eclosion, mating, and grooming behavior of Pseu- dacteon curvatus Borgmeier in an effort to increase understanding of its biology. The sex ra- tio of eclosing flies in the lab was 1:1. The flies emerged only in the morning and were protandrous. Mating in the lab occurred on the substrate and did not require disturbed ants. Males and probably also females mated multiply. Key Words: Biocontrol, Solenopsis invicta, Phoridae, Mass Rearing RESUMEN Las moscas del género Pseudacteon (Phoridae) son parasitoides de las hormigas Solenopsis. Esfuerzos recientes para controlar a la hormiga de fuego importada (Solenopsis invicta) en los Estados Unidos han estado enfocados en la cria y liberación de estas moscas como agen- tes de control biológico. Nosotros estudiamos la eclosión, apareamiento y el comportamiento de acicalamiento de Pseudacteon curvatus Borgmeier en un esfuerzo para aumentar nuestro entendimiento de su biología. La proporción de nacimiento de hembras y machos en el labo- ratorio fué 1:1. Las moscas emergieron solamente en la mañana y fueron protandrosas (los machos nacen más temprano que las hembras).
    [Show full text]
  • Distribución Y Abundancia De La Hormiga Colorada Solenopsis Invicta En Argentina: Sus Interacciones Con Hormigas Competidoras Y Moscas Parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.)
    Tesis Doctoral Distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta en Argentina: sus interacciones con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.) Calcaterra, Luis Alberto 2010 Este documento forma parte de la colección de tesis doctorales y de maestría de la Biblioteca Central Dr. Luis Federico Leloir, disponible en digital.bl.fcen.uba.ar. Su utilización debe ser acompañada por la cita bibliográfica con reconocimiento de la fuente. This document is part of the doctoral theses collection of the Central Library Dr. Luis Federico Leloir, available in digital.bl.fcen.uba.ar. It should be used accompanied by the corresponding citation acknowledging the source. Cita tipo APA: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. (2010). Distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta en Argentina: sus interacciones con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Cita tipo Chicago: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. "Distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta en Argentina: sus interacciones con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.)". Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. 2010. Dirección: Biblioteca Central Dr. Luis F. Leloir, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Contacto: [email protected] Intendente Güiraldes 2160 - C1428EGA - Tel. (++54 +11) 4789-9293 UNIVERSIDAD DE BUENOS AIRES Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución DISTRIBUCIÓN Y ABUNDANCIA DE LA HORMIGA COLORADA SOLENOPSIS INVICTA EN ARGENTINA: SUS INTERACCIONES CON HORMIGAS COMPETIDORAS Y MOSCAS PARASITOIDES (PSEUDACTEON SPP.) Tesis presentada para optar al título de Doctor de la Universidad de Buenos Aires en el área de Ciencias Biológicas Luis Alberto Calcaterra Director de tesis: Juan A.
    [Show full text]
  • FÓRIDOS (Díptera: Phoridae)
    FÓRIDOS (Díptera: Phoridae) ASOCIADOS AL HÁBITAT DE HORMIGAS CORTADORAS DE HOJAS (Atta cephalotes y Acromyrmex octospinosus) Y SUS PATRONES DE LOCALIZACIÓN EN UN BOSQUE SECO TROPICAL ANDINO Soraya Uribe Celis Maestría en Ciencia-Entomología Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela de Postgrados Universidad Nacional de Colombia Medellín, Colombia 2013 FÓRIDOS (Díptera: Phoridae) ASOCIADOS AL HÁBITAT DE HORMIGAS CORTADORAS DE HOJAS (Atta cephalotes y Acromyrmex octospinosus) Y SUS PATRONES DE LOCALIZACIÓN EN UN BOSQUE SECO TROPICAL ANDINO Estudiante: Soraya Uribe Celis Director: Adriana Ortiz Reyes, Ph.D. Codirector: Brian V. Brown, Ph.D Maestría en Ciencia-Entomología Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela de Postgrados Universidad Nacional de Colombia Medellín, Colombia 2013 TESIS PARA ASPIRAR AL TÍTULO DE MAGÍSTER EN CIENCIAS - ENTOMOLOGÍA DE LA UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA SEDE MEDELLÍN Agradecimientos A la Vicerrectoría de Investigación de la Universidad Nacional por la financiación del proyecto (Código 90201016). A Agrotunez S.A y a la hacienda Monteloro por brindarme, su hospitalidad, sus predios y el personal necesario para realizar mí trabajo en campo. En especial agradezco a Andrés Moreno Rúa “El Compa” por brindarme su amistad, por enseñarme a encontrar los mejores hormigueros y por espantarme a “trapasos” los mosquitos de la noche. Al laboratorio de Ecología Química por brindarme un espacio y los equipos necesarios para el desarrollo de este trabajo. A Brian Brown, que desde lejos siempre estuvo disponible para mis preguntas y lo más importante por contagiarme con su pasión por los fóridos. Al Dr. Henry Disney y Luciana Elizalde por su cordialidad y por brindarme documentos e información acerca de los fóridos.
    [Show full text]
  • Behavioral Ecology Symposium '97: Lloyd
    Behavioral Ecology Symposium ’97: Lloyd 261 ON RESEARCH AND ENTOMOLOGICAL EDUCATION II: A CONDITIONAL MATING STRATEGY AND RESOURCE- SUSTAINED LEK(?) IN A CLASSROOM FIREFLY (COLEOPTERA: LAMPYRIDAE; PHOTINUS) JAMES E. LLOYD Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611 ABSTRACT The Jamaican firefly Photinus pallens (Fabricius) offers many opportunities and advantages for students to study insect biology in the field, and do research in taxon- omy and behavioral ecology; it is one of my four top choices for teaching. The binomen may hide a complex of closely related species and an interesting taxonomic problem. The P. pallens population I observed gathers in sedentary, flower-associated swarms which apparently are sustained by the flowers. Males and females remained together on the flowers for several hours before overt sexual activity began, and then pairs cou- pled quickly and without combat or display. Males occasionally joined and left the swarm, some flying and flashing over an adjacent field in a manner typical of North American Photinus species. Key Words: Lampyridae, Photinus, mating behavior, ecology RESUMEN La luciérnaga jamaiquina Photinus pallens (Fabricius) brinda muchas oportunida- des y ventajas a estudiantes para el estudio de la biología de los insectos en el campo y para la investigación sobre taxonomía y también sobre ecología del comportamiento; es una de las cuatro opciones principales elegidas para mi enseñanza. Este nombre bi- nomial puede que incluya un complejo de especies cercanamente relacionadas, que es un problema taxonómico interesante. La población de P. pallens que observé se reune en grupos sedentarios asociados con flores los cuales son aparentemente mantenidos por dichas flores.
    [Show full text]
  • Acquired Natural Enemies of Oxyops Vitiosa 1
    Christensen et al.: Acquired Natural Enemies of Oxyops vitiosa 1 ACQUIRED NATURAL ENEMIES OF THE WEED BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OXYOPS VITIOSA (COLEPOTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) ROBIN M. CHRISTENSEN, PAUL D. PRATT, SHERYL L. COSTELLO, MIN B. RAYAMAJHI AND TED D. CENTER USDA/ARS, Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314 ABSTRACT The Australian curculionid Oxyops vitiosa Pascoe was introduced into Florida in 1997 as a biological control agent of the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S. T. Blake. Pop- ulations of the weevil increased rapidly and became widely distributed throughout much of the invasive tree’s adventive distribution. In this study we ask if O. vitiosa has acquired nat- ural enemies in Florida, how these enemies circumvent the protective terpenoid laden exu- dates on larvae, and what influence 1 of the most common natural enemies has on O. vitiosa population densities? Surveys of O. vitiosa populations and rearing of field-collected individ- uals resulted in no instances of parasitoids or pathogens exploiting weevil eggs or larvae. In contrast, 44 species of predatory arthropods were commonly associated (>5 individuals when pooled across all sites and sample dates) with O. vitiosa. Eleven predatory species were ob- served feeding on O. vitiosa during timed surveys, including 6 pentatomid species, 2 formi- cids and 3 arachnids. Species with mandibulate or chelicerate mouthparts fed on adult stages whereas pentatomids, with haustellate beaks, pierced larval exoskeletons thereby by- passing the protective larval coating. Observations of predation were rare, with only 8% of timed surveys resulting in 1 or more instances of attack. Feeding by the pentatomid Podisus mucronatus Uhler accounted for 76% of all recorded predation events.
    [Show full text]
  • Suppl. No. 25 Southwestern
    SEPT.2OO2 SUPPL.NO. 25 SOUTHWESTERNENTOMOLOGIST PHORIDFLIES FORTHE BIOLOGICAL SUPPRESSIONOF IMPORTEDFIRE ANT IN TEXAS: REGIONSPECIFIC CHALLENGES' RECENT ADVANCES AND FUTUREPROSPECTS LawrenceE. Gilbertand Richard J.W. Patrock Sectionoflntegrative Biology andBrackenridge Field Laboratory TheUniversity of Texag,Austin 78712 ABSTRACT At the Universityof Texas'Brackenridge Field Laboratorywe maintainone of two laboratoriesin the U.S.devoted to researchon the basicbiology of Pseudacteonphorid flies' a diversegenus offire ant parasitoids.Goals include 1) screeningvarious South American specieso{Pseudacteon for their potential to negativelyimpact the red imported fue ant, S. i)victa,2) testing prospectspecies for their host specificity,3) developing.methodsfor rearingcandidatJspecies, and successfullyintroducing them to Texas,and 4) monitoring impact of fire ant phoridson local ant communityorganization. Challengeiin introducingtopical P. tricuspisto confol S. invicta populationsacross central and ,outh T.tut include the l) high rate ofpolygyny in S. irwicta populationsand 2) harsh,unpredictable climate of the region.Nevertheless, field-bred P. tricuspishave been ,""olr"r"d in 9 of 15 experimentalrelease sites over periods:upto27 months.In South America, we have collaboratedwith colleaguesto study the life histories, geography,and seasonalphenologies of little known Pseudacteonspecies such as P. cultellatus.Our laboratory experirnentshave shownthat different speciesof Pseudacteonvary in the extent to which they disrupt the foraging activities of fire ants. Laboratory experimentsrevealed the negativeimpaciof P. tricuspison colony protein consumptionwhich ultimately affects colony-fitness.bur resultsfrom variousinvestigations lead to the conclusionthat in Texas, biologicalcontrol of fire antsusing phorid flies will likely requiremore than a singlespecies of Pseudacteon,as well asregion-specific tactics. INTRODUCTION The associationof phorid flies of the genusPseudacteon with fire antshas been known sincew.M. wheelei and c.T.
    [Show full text]
  • Potential Biological Control Agents for the Red Imported Fire Ant
    ENTO-008 03/14 Potential Biological Control Agents for the Red Imported Fire Ant Bastiaan M. Drees and establishing native natural enemies into pest Extension Entomologist Emeritus areas, or mass-rearing and releasing new exotic Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service natural enemies. This last approach is known as Robert Puckett importation biological control. Associate Research Scientist Texas A&M AgriLife Research The first step is to search for promising natural enemies in the ant’s native home, considering for importation and release in the United States The red imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta only natural enemies that specifically attack the Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), arrived in red imported fire ant. Native ant species compete the United States from South America with with imported fire ants for food and can reduce few parasites or pathogens that regulate the imported fire ant populations through competi- ant’s populations (Wojcik 1998), (see Natural tion for resources. Some native ants also attack Enemies of Fire Ants). This lack of natural ene- and kill young fire ant queens as they begin to mies is one factor that has allowed the ant to establish colonies in new territories. spread and dominate resources in its non-native The importation of exotic natural enemies must range (Porter 1998). Fire ant densities are many be approved by the United States Department of times greater in the United States than in South Agriculture–Animal and Plant Health Inspec- America where a variety of natural enemies tion Service (USDA–APHIS). Once approved for attack this pest. Attempts are currently under- importation and release in the United States, the way in the United States to augment natural exotic natural enemy is reared in large numbers and enemies in order to reduce its impact.
    [Show full text]
  • Zombie Fire Ant Workers: Behavior Controlled by Decapitating Fly Parasitoids
    Insect. Soc. 54 (2007) 150 – 153 0020-1812/07/020150-4 Insectes Sociaux DOI 10.1007/s00040-007-0924-y Birkhuser Verlag, Basel, 2007 Research article Zombie fire ant workers: behavior controlled by decapitating fly parasitoids D.C. Henne and S.J. Johnson Department of Entomology, 404 Life Sciences Building, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, U.S.A., e-mail: [email protected], e-mail: [email protected] Received 9 November 2006; revised 26 January 2007; accepted 7 February. Published Online First 12 March 2007 Abstract. Laboratory observations were conducted on its host caterpillar, Spodoptera litoralis (Boisduval) (Lep- four separate red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, idoptera: Noctuidae) to dig into the soil at its fourth instar colonies that contained workers parasitized by the rather than the sixth instar (Rechav and Orion, 1975). decapitating fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis. Parasitized S. Another Chelonus sp. causes its host, Trichoplusia ni invicta workers remained inside the nest during parasitoid (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to prematurely ini- larval development and left the nest approximately 8–10 tiate metamorphosis by spinning a cocoon but not actually hours before decapitation by the parasitoid. When para- pupating; this way the protective structure of the cocoon is sitized ants left the nest, they were highly mobile, were provided to the developing parasitoid (Jones, 1985). Ants responsive to tactile stimuli, and showed minimal defen- that are parasitized by nematodes will drown themselves in sive behavior. Ants ultimately entered into a grass thatch water so that the nematodes can emerge (Kaiser, 1986; layer, where they were decapitated and the fly maggots Maeyama et al., 1994).
    [Show full text]