Comparing floral nectar and aphid honeydew diets on the longevity and nutrient levels of a parasitoid wasp

摘要: We compared the effects of floral nectar from buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, and honeydew produced by soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Homoptera: Aphididae), on longevity, nutrient levels, egg loads parasitoid Diadegma insulare Cresson (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). lived for 2 days in control treatments water or clean leaves, 6-7 with honeydew, excess weeks buckwheat nectar. Potential reasons superiority over aphid extending longevity parasitoids include: (i) ingest more sugars sources, (ii) oligosaccharides have a lower nutritional value than sugars, (iii) has antagonistic compounds. Overall sugar levels were honeydew- vs. nectar-fed female wasps, suggesting feeding rate, but other explanations cannot be excluded. eclosed high lipids glycogen, low gut storage sugars. All carbohydrates increased life both nectar- honeydew-fed remained decreased starved wasps. Lipid declined lifespan females fed showed slowest rate lipid decline. Diet did not affect load, probably because given hosts experiment.