BEHAVIORAL AND ANATOMICAL RESPONSES OF CONVERGENT LADY BEETLE TO PARASITISM BY PERILITUS COCCINELLAE (SCHRANK) (HYMENOPTERA - BRACONIDAE)

The development of larval Perilitus coccinellae in the hemocoel of male Hippodamia convergens is described. Especial emphasis is placed upon the development of the trophic cells which originate from the dissociation of the parasite's embryonic membrane. Some aspects of the response of male beetles to parasitism by P. coccinellae are considered. The influence of parasitism on the feeding and respiration rates of the beetles is described. These was no effect on the mating behavior or testicular morphology in parasitized beetles. Two types of lesions are described from the fat body of host beetles: (1) those ascribed to the activity of the P. coccinellae larvae, and (2) those ascribed to the activity of the parasitic cells. Microsporidian infections were found in 10-20% of the P. coccinellae and in about 50% of the H. convergens. The lesions caused by the microsporidian infections in beetles are described including neoplasms in the midgut epithelium and in Malpighian tubules. The influence of the microsporidioses of both H. convergens and P. coccinellae on the development of the wasp are discussed. © 1968.