Wild Wasps Research Articles

Divergent life histories between wild and commercially-sourced Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing four species of Diatraea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Moths of the genus Diatraea Guilding (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) are stalk-boring pests of sugarcane throughout the neotropics. In Colombia, the economically important species are D. busckella, D. indigenella, D. saccharalis, and D. tabernella. Augmentative releases of the gregarious endoparasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) are one tactic used to manage this pest complex. We compared the laboratory performance of two C. flavipes populations, one field-collected, and one commercially-sourced, on all four host species, hypothesizing lower performance of the commercial population on host species other than D. saccharalis due to continuous rearing on this species. Parasitism success did not vary with parasitoid source, but varied among host species, being highest in D. indigenella and lowest in D. tabernella, with other species intermediate. Sex ratio was female-biased, averaging 0.635, and did not vary with parasitoid source or host species. Wild wasps developed more slowly than commercial wasps on all hosts, being slowest on D. tabernella, whereas commercial wasps were slowest on D. busckella. Both parasitoid populations produced their largest broods in D. indigenella, but commercial wasps produced smaller broods than wild wasps in D. busckella and D. tabernella, and substantially lower weight gain of host larvae post-parasitism, suggesting impaired host regulation ability. In all host species, wild wasps produced larger female progeny, based on wing area, than commercial wasps. When all metrics of parasitoid performance (fitness) were combined into a single index of host suitability, D. indigenella was the most suitable host for both parasitoid populations. Both parasitoid sources had similar performance on D. saccharalis, the host used to rear the commercial population, whereas wild wasps performed better on all other Diatraea species. The inadvertant consequences of artificial selection in mass-reared cultures of gregarious endoparasitoids are discussed, specifically the evolution of faster development and smaller body size.

Analysis of Response to the Wild Hornet Crisis Based on the SIR Model

In this paper, we propose 4 theoretical models to deal with the wild hornet crisis. First, we use ORIGIN to visualize the distribution of wild wasps. Using the least square method and the grey system GM (1, 1), we establish a theoretical model to predict the propagation of wild wasps over time and analyze the accuracy of the model. However, the accuracy of our model is not very high, which results from the influence of many factors such as climate and human. Secondly, we use convolution neural network to recognize the images. With the increase of network depth, the accuracy rate reaches a bottleneck, which can help predict mistaken classification. We also use the SIR infectious disease model based on the dataset file provided. In the model, we mark the confirmed giant hornet as the infected state I (infected), mark the nonwild wasp as the removed state R (removed, refractory, or recovered), and mark the unclassified and unverified wild wasp as the susceptible state S (susceptible). A model to predict the possibility of misclassification was established by considering the normal death of wild wasp. Thirdly, by analogy with the SIR model, when the epidemic occurs, people pay more attention to the infected person. Thus, the SIR model will lead to the most likely positive sightings. Then, in order to ensure the timeliness and accuracy, the model must be updated once a year by changing or adding parameter according to local conditions. Finally, by establishing an optimized SIR infectious disease model, we added the factor of the Washington state’s control of wild wasps. The analysis shows that the number of infected I (i.e., wild wasps) has tended to zero after 250 days, so it can be proved that the Washington state has eliminated the pest.

Abstract P-155: COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH ACUTE WASP STING COMPLICATED BY MULTIPLE ORGAN FAILURE.

Aims & Objectives: We report the clinical features and comprehensive treatment of 5 children with severe wasp sting combined with multiple organ failure Methods A retrospective analysis of 5 severe wasp sting children from PICU of Kunming children’s hospital between January 2015 and April 2017 were done include the patient’s general information clinical features diagnosis and treatment process and outcome. Results 3 of these 5 patients between 2–8 years old are male and 2 are female. They were stung by wild wasps and from rural mountain areas. The shortest time to our hospital after sting was 36 h, and the longest was 46 h. All of them had respiratory failure and renal failure; 3 of them had rhabdomyolysis syndrome and liver failure, 2 of them with pulmonary hemorrhage, 2 cases with brain disorders; All patients accepted mechanical ventilation (pressure control ventilation, with expiration tidal volume 6–8 ml/Kg). Blood perfusion and plasma exchange were administrated after admission, Continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were done between the treatment of plasma exchange and blood perfusion, the shortest CVVHDF time was 11 hours, the longest was up to 131 hours for organ function recovery. Wound clean anti-inflammation glutathione and correction of electrolyte disorder were done at the same time. The five children were discharged from our hospital with no complications. Conclusions Children with severe wasp stings need blood perfusion as soon as possible, those who has respiratory failure need respiratory support in time, early plasma exchange and hemodialysis filtration are effective rescue methods for those who have liver and kidney injury rhabdomyolysis syndrome.

Food poisoning associated with ingestion of wild wasp broods in the upstream region of the Lancang river valley, Yunnan province, China

IntroductionFood poisoning due to wild wasp broods ingestion has long been noted in the upstream region of the Lancang river valley, Yunnan province, China. This study describes the epidemiological and clinical features of the poisoning and possible causes. MethodsSurveillance data collected between 2008 and 2016 were analyzed to produce demographic data on patients, information on clinical presentations, wasp species identification, and estimations of possible risk factors for symptomatic cases. ResultsEleven poisoning events were associated with the ingestion of wild wasp broods, including 46 exposed persons with 31 symptomatic living cases and 8 deceased cases that were reported in the Yunnan province between 2008 and 2016. Poisoning cases were only detected in the upstream region of the Lancang river valley in the autumn. The severity of the symptoms was correlated with an evident dose-effect relationship regarding the quantity ingested. The mean latent period from wild wasp broods ingestion to the onset of the symptoms was 10 h for symptomatic living cases and 7 h for deceased cases, respectively. Both gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms were commonly observed in the poisoning cases. ConclusionThe toxin source may be indirectly caused by the wasp broods due to the prevalence of local poisonous plants, such as Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch and Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. Educational programs at the start of wasp harvest season in September in the high-risk area should be carried out to reduce the incidence of poisonings.

May the wild male loose? Male wing fanning performances and mating success in wild and mass-reared strains of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a pan-tropical broadly oligophagous endoparasitoid of many aphids of economic importance, including Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae (Sulzer). While the trophic interactions occurring among A. colemani and its hosts have been extensively studied, little is known about the male- and female-borne cues that guide mating dynamics. Male wing fanning has been found to play a key role in A. colemani courtship, as successful mounting of females without initial wing fanning has never been observed. In this research, we analyzed wing fanning performance and mating ability of males from three different strains of A. colemani: wasps commercially mass-reared on A. gossypii, wild wasps from parasitized A. gossypii, and wild wasps from parasitized Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe. Results showed that virgin females did not rely on particular male fanning features during mate choice. Moreover, when A. colemani individuals developed on A. gossypii, no major differences were detected in courtship and mating ability between field collected and mass-reared wasps. In contrast, courtship performance and mating success varied between wild A. colemani males reared on different hosts, with those developing on A. nerii having lower quality wing fanning performance during the mounting attempt phase, and reduced ability to compete for females with other males reared on A. gossypii.