van der Merwe, E.; Slippers, B.; Dittrich-Schröder, G. Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). Insects2023, 14, 931.
van der Merwe, E.; Slippers, B.; Dittrich-Schröder, G. Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). Insects 2023, 14, 931.
van der Merwe, E.; Slippers, B.; Dittrich-Schröder, G. Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). Insects2023, 14, 931.
van der Merwe, E.; Slippers, B.; Dittrich-Schröder, G. Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). Insects 2023, 14, 931.
Abstract
Egg activation is a cellular transition of an arrested mature oocyte into a developing embryo through a coordinated series of events. Previous studies in Hymenoptera have indicated that mechanical pressure can induce egg activation. In this study, we developed the first egg activation protocol for the haplodiploid insect pest, Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), from two climatically different regions in South Africa. In addition, activated eggs were exposed to three treatments involving water, pine sawdust, and the fungal symbiont of S. noctilio, Amylostereum areolatum (Russulales: Amylostereaceae), to confirm the hypothesised prerequisite of the symbiotic fungus for egg development. A rearing protocol was developed for emerged first instar larvae using a modified Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) artificial diet. A significant difference between mean survival rates of activated eggs from the two different regions was observed. Amylostereum areolatum was shown to be unnecessary for egg survival and adversely affected egg eclosion. Maximum larval survival duration on the artificial diet was 92 days. The egg activation and rearing protocol developed in this study enables opportunities for research on the physiology, ecology, symbioses, and genetics of S. noctilio, which can be exploited for new genetic pest management strategies.
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