Lysibia

Förster, 1869

Species Guides

1

Lysibia is a of hyperparasitoid in the Ichneumonidae. The best-studied , Lysibia nana, is a solitary secondary idiobiont hyperparasitoid that attacks pre-pupae and pupae of gregarious braconid in the genus Cotesia, particularly C. glomerata. These wasps are winged, synovigenic (emerging without mature ), and do not -feed as . They locate hosts using chemical cues including from the primary parasitoid and herbivore-induced plant volatiles. The genus is part of the Apanteles-Tetrastichus-Lysibia complex associated with pierid hosts.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lysibia: //lɪˈsɪbiə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Distribution

Records from Denmark (DK), Norway (NO), and Sweden (SE) in GBIF. Specific associations include agricultural systems with cabbage crops where the complex (Pieris brassicae, Cotesia glomerata) occurs.

Host Associations

  • Cotesia glomerata - primary Attacks newly cocooned pre-pupae and pupae; hyperparasitism rates of 35-55% under choice conditions
  • Cotesia spp. - primary Several closely related gregarious endoparasitoids in the Cotesia
  • Pieris brassicae - indirect Large white ; secondary of Cotesia glomerata, providing indirect association through host complex
  • Pieris rapae - indirect Cabbage white ; of Cotesia glomerata in agricultural systems

Life Cycle

-to- development in L. nana: 11-14 days under laboratory conditions. Adult longevity: 2-5 days without food, up to 14 days with honey solution. Hyperparasitoid survival exceeds 80% when are parasitized within 60 hours after , declining thereafter with no from 108-hour-old hosts. Development time remains uniform in hosts up to 60 hours old but increases significantly in older hosts. Males complete development earlier than females. Pupal hyperparasitoids do not construct cocoons but pupate within the prepared cocoon of the host .

Behavior

Females locate by detecting chemical signals: (intra-specific of the host) and herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) released by plants attacked by herbivores. Attracted to plants attacked by caterpillars infected by Cotesia glomerata. Prior to oviposition, females inject paralyzing venom into the host, preventing further development. No evidence of host discrimination between parasitized and unparasitized hosts. provided with honey but no hosts lived significantly longer than those with both honey and hosts.

Ecological Role

Secondary hyperparasitoid in a four-trophic-level system: plant-herbivore-primary -hyperparasitoid. Functions as a hyperparasitoid of gregarious Cotesia with strong match between size in C. glomerata and production in L. nana. Potential agent or interference agent in pest management systems; extremely efficient at exploiting its primary parasitoid as evidenced by remarkable similarity in body mass between L. nana and C. glomerata from comparable cocoons.

Similar Taxa

Tags

Sources and further reading