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Adult emergence rhythm of the egg-parasitoid Telenomus busseolae

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Abstract

The adult emergence rhythm of Telenomus busseolae, an egg parasitoid of Sesamia nonagrioides, was examined when parasitoids were exposed to different light-dark regimes. Most of the adult parasitoids emerged throughout the whole period of the photoperiodic cycle. Peak male emergence occurred 2–5 hours earlier than that of females. Adult emergence was asynchronous in continuous darkness or light. However, regimes of alternative light and dark phases such as L4:D20, L8:D16, L12:D12, L16:D8 and L20:D4 h generated a population rhythm with a period length of 24 hours. The peak of the emergence activity moves from the scotophase to the middle of the photophase with an increase of the photophase from 4 to 20 h. Rhythmical activity of adults was synchronised within 2 cycles when immature stages of parasitoid grow under continuous light conditions (LL) and then transferred to L12:D12. Moreover, emergence rhythm persisted and continued in a free-run with a period length of less than 24 hours by transferring a rhythmic culture from L12:D12 h to LL or RR (continuous red light) conditions, indicating the existence of a circadian rhythm. The ecological implications of the expression rhythm relate to better survival of the parasitoids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens, 11855, Greece

    A.A. Fantinou

  2. Agricultural Industry Research, VIORYL s.a. Chemical &, Viltanioti 36, Kifisia, 14564, Athens, Greece

    M.P. Alexandri

  3. Laboratory of Entomology & Agricultural Zoology, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334, Greece

    J.A. Tsitsipis

Authors
  1. A.A. Fantinou
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  2. M.P. Alexandri
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  3. J.A. Tsitsipis
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Fantinou, A., Alexandri, M. & Tsitsipis, J. Adult emergence rhythm of the egg-parasitoid Telenomus busseolae. BioControl 43, 141–151 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009984318289

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