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. 2023 Jan 13;14(1):90.
doi: 10.3390/insects14010090.

Evidence of Seasonal Variation in Body Color in Adults of the Parasitoid Cirrospilus pictus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Sicily, Italy

Mirella Lo Pinto  1 , Salvatore Guarino  2 , Alfonso Agrò  1
Affiliations

Evidence of Seasonal Variation in Body Color in Adults of the Parasitoid Cirrospilus pictus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Sicily, Italy

Mirella Lo Pinto et al. Insects. .

Abstract

As part of the studies on the morphological color variation of insects, a case study on the seasonal body color variation of Cirrospilus pictus (Nees) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Eulophinae) parasitoid of leafminers is reported. Observations were made from January 2000 to December 2003 in north-western Sicily (Italy), in relation to sex, body regions of adults and seasonal periods. Wasps parasitizing Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) were collected from organic citrus orchards (Citrus limon L., var. "Femminello zagara bianca" and "Femminello comune"). Adults were grouped in classes: yellow males, black males, yellow females, yellow-black females and black females. The results highlighted a phenotypic pigmentation variation in the head, thorax, gaster and legs of individuals influenced by the season of sampling. Adults were yellow-green in summer months, whereas individuals with dark pigmentation were found in autumn and winter months. A correlation between color patterns and seasonal temperatures was found for both females and males. This work provides a contribution to the description of the intraspecific variability of this species, improving its identification.

Keywords: Phyllocnistis citrella; body color; indigenous natural enemies; morphology; parasitoid.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total rainfall (mm) and mean temperature (°C) trends per month (SIAS) detected in the surveyed field of Citrus spp. in Sicily (Italy) from January 2000 to December 2003.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scheme of chromatic variation of C. pictus body observed in the five classes: (a) class I = yellow females, (b) class II = yellow–black females, (c) class III = black females, (d) class IV = yellow males, (e) class V = black males.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Monthly percentages of Cirrospilus pictus females (F) and males (M) belonging to classes I and IV = yellow (Y), II = yellow–black (Y–B), and III and V = black (B), averaged over the 4 years of observation (2000–2003) detected in the period of active infestation of Phyllocnistis citrella.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Linear regression between number of yellow females of Cirrospilus pictus and log of mean temperature (°C) (SIAS) detected in the surveyed field of Citrus spp. in Sicily (Italy) from January 2000 to December 2003.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Linear regression between number of yellow males of Cirrospilus pictus and log of mean temperature (°C) (SIAS) detected in the surveyed field of Citrus spp. in Sicily (Italy) from January 2000 to December 2003.
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