The ovipositor of parasitic insect is a highly specialized organ and crucial for parasitising. Morphology and structure of the ovipositor in female Macrocentrus cingulum, a polyembryonic parasitoid, are observed in SE...The ovipositor of parasitic insect is a highly specialized organ and crucial for parasitising. Morphology and structure of the ovipositor in female Macrocentrus cingulum, a polyembryonic parasitoid, are observed in SEM studies. The ovipositor of M. cingulum consists of the valvulae 1, 2 and 3. The valvulae 1 and 2 of ovipositor house in the valvulae 3 at rest and the valvulae 1 and 2 part from the valvulae 3 at probing and ovipositing. The cross-section of valvulae 3 shows that the valvulae 3 is hollow which may reduce the weight of ovipositor and make the ovipositor more flexible. The distal end of stylus (valvulae l, 2) becomes extremely sharp and the piercing tip of valvulae 1 and 2 form the arrangement of tongue-and-groove. This arrangement may support valvulae 2 slide longitudinally along the valvulae 1. Numbers of pores are distributed on the cuticle of the valvulae l and 2. The piecing tip of valvulae 1 and 2 have more pores than proximal and intermediate region. The out side of valvulae 3 is completely covered with chactica sensilla and the distal end of valvulae 3 has more sensilla than proximal and intermediate region. The function and structure of ovipositor of M. cingulum was discussed and compared with other species.展开更多
Venom and ovarian proteins in braconid and ichneumonid wasps play an important role in the successful parasitism of their host, especially for immune suppression immediately after oviposition. In this study, we compar...Venom and ovarian proteins in braconid and ichneumonid wasps play an important role in the successful parasitism of their host, especially for immune suppression immediately after oviposition. In this study, we compared the effect of venom and ovarian proteins collected from the female wasps of Macrocentrus cingulum, a polyembryonic parasitoid of the larvae of Ostriniafunacalis, on the encapsulation capacity of Sephadex A- 25 beads at 4 h and 24 h post-injection both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that the ovarian proteins significantly interfered with the encapsulation capacity of hemocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Spreading and viability of hemocytes in O. furnacalis was not disrupted by venom and ovarian proteins at various concentrations injected. It seems likely that the ovarian proteins from M. cingulum play a role in suppressing the encapsulation capacity of host hemocytes.展开更多
Two cornborer species, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and O. nubilalis, are major corn pests in Asia and Europe, respectively. In both continents, the larval endoparasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum (Hym...Two cornborer species, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and O. nubilalis, are major corn pests in Asia and Europe, respectively. In both continents, the larval endoparasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) develops on another, closely related stemborer, O. scapulalis, which feeds on mugwort and other dicotyledons. M. cingulum also emerges from O. furnacalis in Asia and (9. nubilalis in North America, but not from O. nubilalis in Europe. We assessed the ability of three populations of each of the three Ostrinia species to encapsulate foreign bodies of a size similar to that of a M. cingulum egg. We conclude that variations in encapsulation ability alone cannot account for the differences observed in the field between parasite emergence rates in these different host species and geographic areas.展开更多
基金Acknowledgements: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30370195). We thank Mr QIU, H. G and QIU, Z. L for culture of insects.
文摘The ovipositor of parasitic insect is a highly specialized organ and crucial for parasitising. Morphology and structure of the ovipositor in female Macrocentrus cingulum, a polyembryonic parasitoid, are observed in SEM studies. The ovipositor of M. cingulum consists of the valvulae 1, 2 and 3. The valvulae 1 and 2 of ovipositor house in the valvulae 3 at rest and the valvulae 1 and 2 part from the valvulae 3 at probing and ovipositing. The cross-section of valvulae 3 shows that the valvulae 3 is hollow which may reduce the weight of ovipositor and make the ovipositor more flexible. The distal end of stylus (valvulae l, 2) becomes extremely sharp and the piercing tip of valvulae 1 and 2 form the arrangement of tongue-and-groove. This arrangement may support valvulae 2 slide longitudinally along the valvulae 1. Numbers of pores are distributed on the cuticle of the valvulae l and 2. The piecing tip of valvulae 1 and 2 have more pores than proximal and intermediate region. The out side of valvulae 3 is completely covered with chactica sensilla and the distal end of valvulae 3 has more sensilla than proximal and intermediate region. The function and structure of ovipositor of M. cingulum was discussed and compared with other species.
基金Acknowledgments We thank X.G. Qiu, and Z.L. Qiu, for culturing insects. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30370195 30571248).
文摘Venom and ovarian proteins in braconid and ichneumonid wasps play an important role in the successful parasitism of their host, especially for immune suppression immediately after oviposition. In this study, we compared the effect of venom and ovarian proteins collected from the female wasps of Macrocentrus cingulum, a polyembryonic parasitoid of the larvae of Ostriniafunacalis, on the encapsulation capacity of Sephadex A- 25 beads at 4 h and 24 h post-injection both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that the ovarian proteins significantly interfered with the encapsulation capacity of hemocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Spreading and viability of hemocytes in O. furnacalis was not disrupted by venom and ovarian proteins at various concentrations injected. It seems likely that the ovarian proteins from M. cingulum play a role in suppressing the encapsulation capacity of host hemocytes.
文摘Two cornborer species, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and O. nubilalis, are major corn pests in Asia and Europe, respectively. In both continents, the larval endoparasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) develops on another, closely related stemborer, O. scapulalis, which feeds on mugwort and other dicotyledons. M. cingulum also emerges from O. furnacalis in Asia and (9. nubilalis in North America, but not from O. nubilalis in Europe. We assessed the ability of three populations of each of the three Ostrinia species to encapsulate foreign bodies of a size similar to that of a M. cingulum egg. We conclude that variations in encapsulation ability alone cannot account for the differences observed in the field between parasite emergence rates in these different host species and geographic areas.