Abstract
Sphecophaga vesparum often parasitizes nests of vespid wasps such as Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica. Inside the colonies, the ectoparasitic larvae feed on the immature forms of the wasps. There are two adult forms of S. vesparum. The large, winged adults emerge from either rigid yellow cocoons or the orange cocoons used for overwintering. The small, brachypterous females emerge from soft, white cocoons. The species is facultative deuterotokous, producing mostly parthenogenic females and infrequently producing males. Here, we describe the production of chemical compounds related to the different developmental forms of the parasitoid S. vesparum (larvae, pupae and adults). We also compare the chemical profiles of the parasitoid wasp adults to those of their two main host species, Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica. The results show differences in hydrocarbon composition of larvae, pupae and adults of S. vesparum. Our results also suggest a partial mimicry of each of the two host species, mostly relating to linear alkanes present in both parasitoids and the host vespid wasp species. This matching is likely due to the recycling of the prey’s hydrocarbons, as has been found in other species of parasitoids.
Highlights
Social parasites often deceive their host species using different strategies: chemical cues, mimicry, camouflage, chemical insignificance, crypsis, usurpation and weaponry [1,2]
The parasitic beetle Metoecus paradoxus uses chemical mimicry to resemble some of the hydrocarbons that occur in the host species, and are frequently found in nests of Vespula vulgaris [8]
Our study shows that the commonly found parasitoid of Vespidae wasps, Sphecophaga vesparum, express different hydrocarbon compositions depending on whether they were found in V. vulgaris or
Summary
Social parasites often deceive their host species using different strategies: chemical cues, mimicry, camouflage, chemical insignificance, crypsis, usurpation and weaponry [1,2]. Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have a primary function to protect against desiccation, but have acquired a communicative function in social insects This function is the most studied mechanism used in nestmate recognition [5]. Strategies used by parasites can include producing low concentrations of recognition cues, demonstrating chemical insignificance, or copying chemical profiles of their host either actively or passively (chemical mimicry). The parasitic beetle Metoecus paradoxus uses chemical mimicry to resemble some of the hydrocarbons that occur in the host species, and are frequently found in nests of Vespula vulgaris [8]. We compared chemical profiles between the parasites from different host species of wasp that were collected, and investigated whether the presence of chemical compounds could be related to the different developmental forms of the parasitoid S. vesparum
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