Physical and ant-mediated refuges from parasitism: Implications for non-target effects in biological control

A promising natural enemy for release against the Asian soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, in North America is the aphidiine braconid wasp Binodoxys communis (Gahan). The aphid Aphis monardae Oestlund, a native of North America’s tall-grass prairies, is a non-target species that may be at risk...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological control 2007-03, Vol.40 (3), p.306-313
Main Authors: Wyckhuys, Kris A.G., Koch, Robert L., Heimpel, George E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ant tending
ant-parastoid interactions
Ant–parasitoid interactions
Aphis
Aphis (Aphididae)
Aphis glycines
Aphis monardae
Binodoxys communis
biological control agents
Braconidae
Classical biological control
Formicidae
host plants
Hymenoptera
Lasius
Lasius neoniger
Monarda fistulosa
mutualism
natural enemies
Non-target effects
nontarget organisms
Parasitism
parasitoids
physical refuges
risk assessment
Soybean aphid
Spatial refuges
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Summary:A promising natural enemy for release against the Asian soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, in North America is the aphidiine braconid wasp Binodoxys communis (Gahan). The aphid Aphis monardae Oestlund, a native of North America’s tall-grass prairies, is a non-target species that may be at risk from releases of B. communis. This paper describes ecological facets of A. monardae populations in their native habitat that could protect them from attack by this exotic biological control agent. In prairie habitats, A. monardae populations aggregate in flower heads of their host plant, Monarda fistulosa L. On this host plant, aphids are also commonly tended by four ant species, and ant-tended colonies are larger than un-attended colonies. Laboratory studies showed that parasitism rates of A. monardae by B. communis are significantly higher on vegetative M. fistulosa than on M. fistulosa flower heads. In addition, attendance of A. monardae by the ant Lasius neoniger Emery significantly decreased parasitism by B. communis. Ants attacked and killed host-seeking adult parasitoids, and preyed upon B. communis mummies. No evidence was found that B. communis reared from A. monardae are less susceptible to attack by ants than parasitoids reared from A. glycines. M. fistulosa flower heads and attendance by L. neoniger may act as refuges for A. monardae against B. communis. Our work describes spatial refuges as ecological filters that separate non-target organisms from exotic natural enemies. Implications for classical biological control of A. glycines are discussed.
ISSN:1049-9644
1090-2112
DOI:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2006.11.010