Abstract
Spodoptera littoralis Boisd. is an unsuitable host for 2 parasite species,Bracon hebetor Say andPalexorista laxa. (Curran).B. hebetor is an exernal parasite that paralyzes its hosts prior to oviposition. In the case ofS. littoralis, parasitization often causes death rather than paralysis and consequently the parasite is unable to reach maturity. The death is not caused by the feeding of the parasite larvae.P. laxa is an internal parasite ofHeliothis spp. that oviposits readily onS. littoralis, but fails to develop therein. It was suggested that the untimely death of the hosts with their parasites prevents control of the former's population by the latter's and, therefore, may be compared to the phytopathological phenomenon of hypersensitivity.
Résumé
Spodoptera littoralis Boisd est un hôte qui ne convient pas aux deux parasitesBracon hebetor Say etPalexorista laxa (Curran). Avant de pondreB. hebetor paralyse son hôte. ChezS. littoralis l'intervention du parasite provoque non pas une paralysie mais une mort prématurée, de sorte que la descendance deB. hebetor ne peut achever son développement. La mort de l'hôte n'est pas due à l'alimentation de la larve du parasite.P. laxa est un parasite interne d'Heliothis sp. qui pond facilement surS. littoralis mais ne parvient pas à s'y développer.
La mort prématurée des hôtes et de leurs parasites empêche le contrôle des populations du ravageur par le parasite. Ce phénomène peut être mis en parallèle avec le processus phytopathologique de l'hypersensibilité.
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Gerling, D., Rotary, N. Hypersensitivity, resulting from host-unsuitability, as exemplified by two parasite species attackingSpodoptera littoralis [Lepidoptera: Noctuidae] . Entomophaga 18, 391–396 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371015
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371015