Abstract
Abstract Trophic interactions and environmental conditions determine the structure of food webs and the host expansion of parasitoids into novel insect hosts. In this study, we investigate plant–insect–parasitoid food web interactions, specifically the effect of trophic resources and environmental factors on the presence of the parasitoids expanding their host range after the invasion of C hrysodeixis chalcites ( E sper) ( L epidoptera: N octuidae). We also consider potential candidates for biological control of this non‐native pest. A survey of larval stages of P lusiinae ( L epidoptera: N octuidae) and their larval parasitoids was conducted in field and vegetable greenhouse crops in 2009 and 2010 in various locations of Essex and Chatham‐Kent counties in O ntario, C anada. Twenty‐one plant–host insect–host parasitoid associations were observed among T richoplusia ni ( H übner) ( L epidoptera: N octuidae), C . chalcites , and larval parasitoids in three trophic levels of interaction. C hrysodeixis chalcites , an old‐world species that had just arrived in the region, was the most common in our samples. The larval parasitoids C ampoletis sonorensis ( C ameron) ( H ymenoptera: I chneumonidae), C otesia vanessae ( R einhard), C otesia sp., M icroplitis alaskensis ( A shmead), and M eteorus rubens ( N ees) (all H ymenoptera: B raconidae) expanded their host range into C . chalcites changing the structure of the food web. C opidosoma floridanum ( A shmead) ( H ymenoptera: E ncyrtidae) was the most common parasitoid of T . ni that was not found in the invasive species. Plant species, host abundance, and agro‐ecosystem were the most common predictors for the presence of the parasitoids expanding their host range into C . chalcites . Our results indicate that C . sonorensis , C . vanessae , and C . floridanum should be evaluated for their potential use in biological control of C . chalcites and T . ni .
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
The crop food web contained twenty-one plant–host insect–parasitoid associations.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Twenty‐one plant–host insect–host parasitoid associations were observed among T richoplusia ni ( H übner) ( L epidoptera: N octuidae), C . chalcites , and larval parasitoids in three trophic levels of interaction”
Claim · model-written summary
Chrysodeixis chalcites was the most common sampled host insect.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“C hrysodeixis chalcites , an old‐world species that had just arrived in the region, was the most common in our samples”
Claim · model-written summary
Five larval parasitoid taxa expanded their host range into C. chalcites, changing the food web.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The larval parasitoids C ampoletis sonorensis ( C ameron) ( H ymenoptera: I chneumonidae), C otesia vanessae ( R einhard), C otesia sp., M icroplitis alaskensis ( A shmead), and M eteorus rubens ( N ees) (all H ymenoptera: B raconidae) expanded their host range into C . chalcites changing the structure of the food web”
Claim · model-written summary
Copidosoma floridanum was the most common parasitoid of T. ni and was absent from the invasive species.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“C opidosoma floridanum ( A shmead) ( H ymenoptera: E ncyrtidae) was the most common parasitoid of T . ni that was not found in the invasive species”
Claim · model-written summary
Plant species, host abundance and agro-ecosystem were the most common predictors of host expanding parasitoid presence.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Plant species, host abundance, and agro‐ecosystem were the most common predictors for the presence of the parasitoids expanding their host range into C . chalcites”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend evaluating C. sonorensis, C. vanessae and C. floridanum for biological control of C. chalcites and T. ni.
- Outcome
- biological control of C . chalcites and T . nie0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“C . sonorensis , C . vanessae , and C . floridanum should be evaluated for their potential use in biological control of C . chalcites and T . ni”