Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa

1. In cassava fields in Africa, population sex ratios of Epidinocarsis fopezi vaned from 0.44 (males to total parasitoids) at low host densities to highly male-biased ratios of 0.70 at high host densities. 2. This variability is caused by the difference in allocation of sons and daughters to hosts o...

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Autores principales: Dijken, M.J. van, Neuenschwander, Peter, Alphen, J.J.M. van, Hammond, W.N.O.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 1991
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101697
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author Dijken, M.J. van
Neuenschwander, Peter
Alphen, J.J.M. van
Hammond, W.N.O.
author_browse Alphen, J.J.M. van
Dijken, M.J. van
Hammond, W.N.O.
Neuenschwander, Peter
author_facet Dijken, M.J. van
Neuenschwander, Peter
Alphen, J.J.M. van
Hammond, W.N.O.
author_sort Dijken, M.J. van
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description 1. In cassava fields in Africa, population sex ratios of Epidinocarsis fopezi vaned from 0.44 (males to total parasitoids) at low host densities to highly male-biased ratios of 0.70 at high host densities. 2. This variability is caused by the difference in allocation of sons and daughters to hosts of different sizes, through the following mechanisms: (a) small, i.e. second instar, hosts are mainly used for the production of male offspring, whereas in large, i.e. third instar, hosts a variable, female-biased sex ratio is produced; (b) E.fopezi does not selectively oviposit into large hosts but always accepts both small and large hosts for oviposition upon encountering; (c) in the field, this parasitoid is time-limited, and not egg-limited. On the basis of an optimal diet model, such general host acceptance is shown to be the best strategy. 3. Thus, sex ratio increases with host density for three reasons: the proportion of small hosts encountered in the field increases with increasing host density, small hosts are used for male production, and hosts are always accepted when encountered.
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spelling CGSpace1016972024-01-17T12:58:34Z Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa Dijken, M.J. van Neuenschwander, Peter Alphen, J.J.M. van Hammond, W.N.O. cassava fields production 1. In cassava fields in Africa, population sex ratios of Epidinocarsis fopezi vaned from 0.44 (males to total parasitoids) at low host densities to highly male-biased ratios of 0.70 at high host densities. 2. This variability is caused by the difference in allocation of sons and daughters to hosts of different sizes, through the following mechanisms: (a) small, i.e. second instar, hosts are mainly used for the production of male offspring, whereas in large, i.e. third instar, hosts a variable, female-biased sex ratio is produced; (b) E.fopezi does not selectively oviposit into large hosts but always accepts both small and large hosts for oviposition upon encountering; (c) in the field, this parasitoid is time-limited, and not egg-limited. On the basis of an optimal diet model, such general host acceptance is shown to be the best strategy. 3. Thus, sex ratio increases with host density for three reasons: the proportion of small hosts encountered in the field increases with increasing host density, small hosts are used for male production, and hosts are always accepted when encountered. 1991 2019-06-25T17:08:59Z 2019-06-25T17:08:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101697 en Limited Access Van Dijken, M.J., Neuenschwander, P., Van Alphen, J.J.M. & Hammond, W.N.O. (1991). Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa. Ecological Entomology, 16, 233-240.
spellingShingle cassava
fields
production
Dijken, M.J. van
Neuenschwander, Peter
Alphen, J.J.M. van
Hammond, W.N.O.
Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa
title Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa
title_full Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa
title_fullStr Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa
title_full_unstemmed Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa
title_short Sex ratios in field populations of Epidinocarsis lopezi, an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug, in Africa
title_sort sex ratios in field populations of epidinocarsis lopezi an exotic parasitoid of the cassava mealybug in africa
topic cassava
fields
production
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101697
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