Abstract
The interaction between the seed beetle Zabrotes subfasciatus and its parasitoid Stenocorse bruchivora, was investigated on seeds of two populations of wild lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus. By manipulating the number of beetle larvae per seed and the presence of parasitoids, we determined how factors related to beetle larvae density, the seed in which they feed and the parasitoid, may interact and affect host and parasitoid survival. Results showed that an increase in larval beetle density had a negative impact on beetle performance. This effect cascaded up to parasitoids, high larval density strongly reduced parasitoid emergence. Also, parasitoid presence resulted in faster beetle development and lower female weight. An interactive effect between larval host density and parasitoid presence affected the number of insects that emerged from the seeds. Beetle performance was better in the bean population with the largest seeds, while parasitoid emergence was the lowest in these seeds. This study shows that the impact of parasitoids on seed beetles is contingent on the interaction between density-mediated (direct mortality) and trait-mediated (e.g. non-consumptive) effects. Indirect trait-mediated effects of natural enemies are likely prevalent across insect communities, understanding their role in driving host-parasitoid interactions can have important implications for biological control.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Higher larval density reduced seed beetle performance.
Verbatim
t0“wild lima bean”
e0“an increase in larval beetle density had a negative impact on beetle performance.”
Claim · model-written summary
High larval density reduced parasitoid emergence.
Verbatim
t0“wild lima bean”
e0“high larval density strongly reduced parasitoid emergence.”
Claim · model-written summary
Parasitoid presence accelerated beetle development.
- Taxon
- wild lima beant0
- Treatment
- parasitoid presencee0
- Interactor
- beetlee0pest
- Second interactor
- parasitoide0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- beetle developmente0
- Direction
- fastere0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
t0“wild lima bean”
e0“parasitoid presence resulted in faster beetle development and lower female weight.”
Claim · model-written summary
Parasitoid presence reduced beetle female weight.
- Taxon
- wild lima beant0
- Treatment
- parasitoid presencee0
- Interactor
- beetlee0pest
- Second interactor
- parasitoide0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- female weighte0
- Direction
- lowere0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
t0“wild lima bean”
e0“parasitoid presence resulted in faster beetle development and lower female weight.”
Claim · model-written summary
Larval host density and parasitoid presence interacted in their effect on insect emergence.
- Taxon
- wild lima beant0
- Outcome
- number of insects that emerged from the seedse0
- Qualifier
- interactive effect between larval host density and parasitoid presencee0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
t0“wild lima bean”
e0“An interactive effect between larval host density and parasitoid presence affected the number of insects that emerged from the seeds.”
Claim · model-written summary
Seed beetle performance was better in the bean population with largest seeds.
Verbatim
t0“wild lima bean”
e0“Beetle performance was better in the bean population with the largest seeds, while parasitoid emergence was the lowest in these seeds.”
Claim · model-written summary
Parasitoid emergence was lowest in the largest seeds.
Verbatim
t0“wild lima bean”
e0“Beetle performance was better in the bean population with the largest seeds, while parasitoid emergence was the lowest in these seeds.”