Project properties

Title Boost the production of bio-control agent: Transferring parthenogenesis bacteria to produce female-only parasitoid wasps
Group Entomology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 30-36
Supervisor(s) Yidong Wang
Eveline Verhulst
Examiner(s) Marcel Dicke
Contact info yidong.wang@wur.nl
Begin date 2019/10/01
End date 2025/09/01
Description Wolbachia is one of the most notorious endosymbiont bacteria which can distort the sex in many biocontrol wasp species. However, using it wisely may also help tackle some issues related to mass rearing and post releasing effects of some species. For instance, Wolbachia which can induce parthenogenesis (PI-Wolbachia) in its hosts may lead to only female reproduction, in this way it could solve the problem of male biased sex ratio in some biocontrol species. Currently two sister species Muscidifurax uniraptor and Muscidifurax raptorellus are utilized as natural enemies of filthy flies. Compared to the solitary species M. uniraptor, M. raptorellus has a shorter life cycle with higher fecundity. However, local mate competition, host quality, clutch size and mass rearing affect greatly the sex ratio and constrain its biocontrol efficiency. Since PI-Wolbachia is presented in only M. uniraptor, combining the gregarious nature of M. raptorellus with the female-only reproduction of M. uniraptor could advance the use of Muscidifurax as biocontrol agent tremendously. It can also help us gain more knowledge about why Wolbachia infection only occurs in M. uniraptor but not in its sister species and to support future natural enemy production.
Used skills microinjection, Rna extraction, qpcr, insects bioassay, confocal microscopy.
Requirements For doing a BSc-thesis at Entomology, there are no requirements for specific courses.
For doing a MSc-thesis or internship at Entomology, the following requirements apply: ENT-30806 + a second ENT-course (preferably ENT-30306 or ENT-50806 or ENT-53806). As an alternative for the second ENT-course, PHP-30806 or BHE-30306 can be selected.
Note: these requirements do not apply for MBI students; MBI students should check the requirements for doing an ENT MSc-thesis or internship in the study programme of their specialisation.