Does Wolbachia infection affect decision‐making in a parasitic wasp?

摘要: Various physiological effects of Wolbachia infection have been reported in invertebrates, but the impact this on behavior and consequences these behavioral modifications fitness rarely studied. Here, we investigate effect estimation host nutritive resource quality a parasitoid wasp. We compare decision-making uninfected Wolbachia-infected strains Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) patches containing either fresh or old eggs. For both strains, eggs were better hosts than older eggs, difference was smaller for infected strain strain. Oviposition wasps followed predictions optimal foraging theory. They behaved differently toward high- vs. low-quality hosts, with more visited ovipositions, fewer high-quality used feeding superparasitism, sex ratio that biased females ones. Uninfected also displayed shorter acceptance rejection times lower quality. In contrast, less efficient evaluating (fresh eggs) had reduced ability to discriminate between unparasitized parasitized hosts. Furthermore, they needed energy therefore engaged often. This study highlights possible manipulation by Wolbachia, discuss its fitness.