Orgilus

Haliday, 1833

Orgilus is a of in the Braconidae with nearly distribution. within this genus are internal parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, with documented including pyralid and gelechiid pests. Several species have been studied as agents for agricultural pests.

Orgilus by (c) Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento Agriculturasp, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Orgilus strigosus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Orgilus macrurus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Orgilus: /ˈɔrɡɪləs/

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Habitat

Associated with of lepidopteran larvae; agricultural systems where host pests occur, including potato fields and pine forests.

Distribution

Near distribution; recorded from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States (Vermont).

Diet

Internal nutrition derived from larvae; develops within living lepidopteran hosts.

Host Associations

Life Cycle

Development occurs internally within larvae; parasitized hosts initially gain weight similarly to unparasitized larvae but eventually attain smaller maximum size before declining. larvae increase in weight during second to fourth instars, eventually comprising up to 80% of combined host- weight. Host moulting appears unaffected, though parasitized larvae remain in state and do not develop reproductive organs.

Behavior

Females use for location, including volatile compounds (heptanoic acid identified in ) that elicit searching and contact chemicals that stimulate ovipositor probing. Host discrimination allows females to distinguish between parasitized and unparasitized hosts, and between hosts containing versus heterospecific larvae, reducing and multiparasitism. Parasitized hosts maintain feeding and activity for approximately one week longer than unparasitized hosts.

Ecological Role

Internal of lepidopteran larvae; agent of agricultural and forestry pests. interactions include competition and discrimination with other parasitoids such as Hyssopus thymus and Temelucha interruptor.

Human Relevance

Used in programs for pest ; susceptible to broad-spectrum including , , and carbamates, which are generally more toxic to the than to its .

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