First report of a gall midge as a parasitoid of weaver ants

Mekonnen Bethelihem, Haran Julien, Copeland Robert S., Pirk Christian W.W., Yusuf Abdullahi A., Deletre Emilie. 2020. First report of a gall midge as a parasitoid of weaver ants. Entomologia Generalis, 40 (4) : 437-441.

https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2020/0908

Article de revue ; Article de recherche ; Article de revue à facteur d'impact

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Quartile : Outlier, Sujet : ENTOMOLOGY

Résumé : Gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) comprise a diverse family of small nematoceran flies. While most species are phytophagous, the family also includes predatory species, and endoparasitoids. Endoparasitic species have been reared from aphids and psyllids. We discovered parasitoid-infected weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in nests on mango trees in coastal Kenya. Examination of 5 colonies revealed the presence of parasitoids in all of them, with parasitism rates ranging from 2 to 21%. Morphological examination of larval parasitoids indicated that they were gall midges, and molecular data were consistent with the identification. Attempts to rear adults were unsuccessful. This study presents to the best of our knowledge the first report of Cecidomyiidae parasitising Hymenoptera, as well as the first report of a parasitoid of weaver ants. This species should be investigated further because its damage may limit the ability of weaver ants to control pests of cultivated fruits and other insects.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : Cecidomyiidae, endoparasite, Oecophylla longinoda, parasitoïde, entomologie, lutte biologique contre les ravageurs, Mangifera indica

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Afrique tropicale, Kenya

Mots-clés libres : Cecidomyiidae, Endoparasitoids, Biocontrol, Oecophylla longinoda, Afrotropical Region

Classification Agris : L72 - Organismes nuisibles des animaux
L74 - Troubles divers des animaux

Champ stratégique Cirad : CTS 4 (2019-) - Santé des plantes, des animaux et des écosystèmes

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