Abstract
Eretmocerus warrae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is a specialist parasitoid that is used for the control of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). We investigated how temperature affects the body-size, life-time oviposition, and longevity of E. warrae at different stages of life. The body-sizes of both this parasitoid and its host are influenced by temperature. Body-volume indices that reflect body-sizes fell by 47.7 % in T. vaporariorum compared with 57.6% in E. warrae when temperature increased from 20 to 32 °C. The life-time oviposition of female adults of E. warrae that grew at the immature developmental temperature of 20 °C was 86 ± 22 eggs, more than 66 ± 11 eggs at 26 °C, and 65 ± 23 eggs at 32 °C. Besides the influence on fecundity, temperature also influences the oviposition behaviour at the adult stage. More eggs were oviposited at 20 and 26 °C than at 32 °C. Higher temperatures reduced survival in the immature developmental stages and longevity in adults. Adult females lived for a maximum of 8.9 ± 1.8 days at 20 °C and laid a maximum of 97.4 ± 23.2 eggs when reared at 20 °C and maintained at 26 °C as adults. Adult body-size is positively correlated with life-time oviposition but not adult longevity. The results imply that temperature influences the nature of interactions between a parasitoid and its host. Larger wasps can live longer and parasitise more hosts, which should improve their performance as biological control agents.
Highlights
Temperature is an ecological factor that moderates many aspects of insect fitness, including body-size, longevity, and oviposition
The body-sizes of greenhouse whitefly nymphs and adult E. warrae were affected by temperature
The mean body length and width of greenhouse whiteflies that developed at the immature developmental temperature of 20 ◦ C were 20.1% and 25.8% longer and wider, respectively, than those that developed at 32 ◦ C
Summary
Temperature is an ecological factor that moderates many aspects of insect fitness, including body-size, longevity, and oviposition. Immature development in relatively cooler conditions often leads to a larger body-size [1,2,3]. This change in body-size affects fecundity in a more complicated manner. Angilletta et al [2] found that individuals grow slower in colder ambient environments, and argued that there should be no substantial increase in fecundity in such conditions. Adult insects are usually more active in warmer conditions, so higher temperatures generally lead to a higher oviposition rate [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
