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Larval morphology and development of Aphidius rhopalosiphi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Frédéric Muratori ,
Jo Le Lannic ,
Jean-Pierre Nénon  and
Thierry Hance
Frédéric Muratori*
Affiliation:
Unité d'Écologie et Biogéographie, Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité, Université Catholique de Louvain, 4–5 Place Croix du sud, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique
Jo Le Lannic
Affiliation:
Centre de Microscopie Electronique à Balayage et Microanalyse, Université de Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, Avenue du Général Leclerc, F-35042 Rennes CEDEX, France
Jean-Pierre Nénon
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Ecobiologie des Parasitoïdes, Université de Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, Avenue du Général Leclerc, F-35042 Rennes CEDEX, France
Thierry Hance
Affiliation:
Unité d'Écologie et Biogéographie, Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité, Université Catholique de Louvain, 4–5 Place Croix du sud, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique
*
2 Corresponding author (e-mail: muratori@ecol.ucl.ac.be).
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Abstract

The aphid parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi is the most abundant species of Aphidiinae in cereal fields in northern Europe. Although the larval morphology of other Aphidiinae has been described, the morphology and immature development of A. rhopalosiphi remain unknown. Our goal is to relate growth and larval developmental stages to morphological changes during parasitoid development, using light and scanning electron microscopy. Aphidius rhopalosiphi develops through three larval stages with clear differences in the morphology of the mouthparts, tegument sculpturing, and respiratory features that can be related to the different constraints that the larvae have to face. In the first instar, adaptations to physical combat with competitors take the form of strong mandibles, active caudae, and dorsal spines that allow crawling motion. In the third instar, the larva is adapted to tear tissues with short hooked mandibles and to face aerial respiration. All instars possess sensory structures. The "three instars" hypothesis is supported here by the observation of larvae in exuviation. No differences were found between our observations and descriptions of other Aphidius species, supporting the idea that species of this genus cannot be distinguished by larval morphology but only by morphometric analysis. Some new features of the genus are presented for the first and second instars.

Résumé

La morphologie des larves de l'endoparasitoïde de pucerons, Aphidius rhopalosiphi, n'a jamais été décrite, bien que certains membres de la sous-famille des Aphidiinae aient fait l'objet d'études morphologiques. Cette espèce d'Aphidiinae est pourtant la plus abondante dans les champs de céréales en Europe du Nord. Notre but est de mettre en relation la croissance et le développement des larves d'A. rhopalosiphi et les modifications morphologiques observées au micro scope optique ainsi qu'au microscope électronique à balayage. Aphidius rhopalosiphi présente trois stades larvaires morphologiquement distincts notamment au niveau des pièces buccales, ornementation du tégument et appareil respiratoire. Ces différences morphologiques sont mises en relation avec les contraintes auxquelles doit faire face la larve au cours de son développement. Grâce à des adaptations telles que de puissantes mandibules, une queue mobile ainsi que des épines dorsales permettant des mouvements de reptations, le premier stade est particulièrement équipé pour le combat physique avec des larves compétitrices, en cas de superparasitisme. Au dernier stade, la larve présente des structures lui permettant de vider la cuticule de son hôte et de respirer par elle-même. Les trois stades larvaires possèdent des structures sensorielles. Dans ce travail, l'occurrence de trois stades larvaires est supportée par l'observation d'individu en exuviation. Comparativement aux données disponibles pour d'autres Aphidius, les résultats supportent l'idée qu'au sein des Aphidiinae, les espèces ne peuvent être distinguées sur base de comparaisons morphologiques mais uniquement par des analyses morphométriques fines. Cependant, des structures originales jamais décrites au sein du genre ont été observées au premier et second stades larvaires.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 136 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 169 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2004

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Footnotes

1

Publication BRC028 of the Biodiversity Research Center, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

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