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- Title
Protection of Pea Aphids Associated with Coinfecting Bacterial Symbionts Persists During Superparasitism by a Braconid Wasp.
- Authors
Donald, K.; Clarke, H.; Mitchell, C.; Cornwell, R.; Hubbard, S.; Karley, A.
- Abstract
Bacterial endosymbionts that associate facultatively with insect herbivores can influence insect fitness and trophic interactions. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, can be protected from parasitism by the braconid wasp Aphidius ervi when harbouring particular symbiotic bacteria, with specific endosymbiont coinfections providing almost complete protection. However, studies often quantify aphid mummification with no control over parasitoid oviposition per aphid; thus, if mummy production fails or is low, the causes are often unclear. Here, we show that the high level of protection associated with the coinfecting endosymbionts Hamiltonella defensa and X-type is maintained even when pea aphids are superparasitised. This contrasts strongly with the protection provided by H. defensa alone, which has been shown by others to be overcome by superparasitism. By dissecting aphids exposed to two parasitoid attacks, we reveal that A. ervi deposits eggs equally freely in endosymbiont-infected and uninfected nymphs, and lack of mummification in endosymbiont-protected nymphs arises from failure of the wasp eggs to hatch or emerging larvae to develop.
- Subjects
BIOLOGICAL control of aphids; PEA aphid; INSECT-bacteria relationships; PARASITISM; BRACONIDAE
- Publication
Microbial Ecology, 2016, Vol 71, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
0095-3628
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00248-015-0690-8