First evidence of Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitization in Finnish castor bean ticks (Ixodes ricinus). 2019

Jani Jukka Sormunen, and Ella Sippola, and Kari Mikael Kaunisto, and Eero Juhani Vesterinen, and Ilari Eerikki Sääksjärvi
Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. jjtsor@utu.fi.

Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a parasitoid wasp specialized in parasitizing the larvae and nymphs of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). As parasitized ticks die prior to reproduction, I. hookeri is seen as a prime biological control agent candidate. Despite this, little is known of their occurrence or ecology in northern Europe. The main aim of the current study was to determine whether adult wasps or parasitized ticks can be found from a tick-infested island in southwestern Finland, using field collections and molecular methods. Following the initial discovery of an adult I. hookeri female on Seili Island, we set out to collect further specimens via sweep netting and Malaise trappings between May and October 2017. Furthermore, 1310 Ixodes ricinus (1220 nymphs, 90 adults) collected from the island during 2012-2014 were screened for I. hookeri DNA using qPCR. Whereas no further wasp specimens could be collected via sweep netting or Malaise trappings, I. hookeri DNA was consistently detected in I. ricinus nymphs (annual minimum infection rates in 2012, 2013, and 2014: 2.3, 0.4, and 0.5%, respectively), whereas all adult samples were negative. Although the annually repeated detections of parasitized ticks suggest that the wasp inhabits the island, further field and molecular surveys are needed to more comprehensively determine the status and stability of the population.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009758 Nymph The immature stage in the life cycle of those orders of insects characterized by gradual metamorphosis, in which the young resemble the imago in general form of body, including compound eyes and external wings; also the 8-legged stage of mites and ticks that follows the first moult.
D005260 Female Females
D005387 Finland A country in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia. The capital is Helsinki. Aland Islands,Åland Islands
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014863 Wasps Any of numerous winged hymenopterous insects of social as well as solitary habits and having formidable stings. Hornets,Yellow Jackets,Hornet,Jacket, Yellow,Jackets, Yellow,Wasp,Yellow Jacket
D018884 Ixodes The largest genus of TICKS in the family IXODIDAE, containing over 200 species. Many infest humans and other mammals and several are vectors of diseases such as LYME DISEASE; ENCEPHALITIS, TICK-BORNE; and KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE. Black-legged Tick,Blacklegged Tick,California Black Legged Tick,Castor Bean Tick,Deer Tick,Ixodes dammini,Ixodes pacificus,Ixodes persulcatus,Ixodes ricinus,Ixodes scapularis,Western Black Legged Tick,Western Blacklegged Tick,Black legged Tick,Black-legged Ticks,Blacklegged Tick, Western,Blacklegged Ticks,Castor Bean Ticks,Deer Ticks,Ixodes damminus,Ixodes scapulari,Tick, Black-legged,Tick, Blacklegged,Tick, Castor Bean,Tick, Deer,Tick, Western Blacklegged,Western Blacklegged Ticks

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