Photographs of left elytra of Harmonia axyridis parasitised by Hesperomyces virescens

Photographs of 80 left elytra of Harmonia axyridis specimens, collected from the South and West walls of William James Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts in October–November 2016. All 80 specimens were parasitized by Hesperomyces virescens (Laboulbeniales). Photographs made using an Olympus XC50 camera and cellSens Standard 1.14 software (Olympus). <br>From Haelewaters D, Hiller T, Gorczak M &amp; Pfister DH. 2018. Influence of elytral color pattern, size, and sex of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) on parasite prevalence and intensity of Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales). <em>Insects</em> 9 (2): 67. doi:10.3390/insects9020067.<br><b>Abstract:</b> <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> is an invasive ladybird (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) with the potential to outcompete native ladybird species in its invasive distribution area. It was introduced as a biological control agent in many countries but has also spread unintentionally in many others. <i>Hesperomyces virescens</i> (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a minute (200–400 µm in size) biotrophic fungus that infects over 30 species of ladybirds. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the elytral color pattern, size, and sex of <i>Ha. axyridis</i> affect infection by <i>H. virescens</i>. Coloration in <i>Ha. axyridis</i> has been linked to the presence of an antimicrobial alkaloid (harmonine). In fall 2016, we collected 763 <i>Ha. axyridis</i> individuals in Cambridge, Massaschusetts, of which 119 (16%) bore <i>H. virescens</i> fruiting bodies. We analyzed 160 individuals (80 infected, 80 uninfected) concerning the intensity of infection by <i>H. virescens</i>. Elytral sizes and coloration patterns were quantified using digital photography and analytical methods. Smaller ladybirds had a higher prevalence and higher intensity of parasitism. Additionally, male ladybirds bore more thalli compared to female ladybirds. Elytral color patterns had an effect on neither prevalence nor intensity of infection by Laboulbeniales in our dataset, although we found a slight trend to higher intensity of parasitism in more melanic males. This suggests that the development of Laboulbeniales might be affected by certain insect alkaloids.<br><b>Keywords: </b>biotrophic interactions, invasive species, color polymorphism, harlequin ladybird, harmonine2016年10月至11月，于美国马萨诸塞州剑桥市威廉·詹姆斯厅（William James Hall）的南、西侧墙面采集的80头异色瓢虫（Harmonia axyridis）左鞘翅（elytra）照片。该80份标本均被淡色赤霉菌（Hesperomyces virescens，虫囊菌目Laboulbeniales）寄生。照片采用奥林巴斯（Olympus）XC50相机及cellSens Standard 1.14软件拍摄。 数据源自Haelewaters D、Hiller T、Gorczak M与Pfister DH于2018年发表的研究：《异色瓢虫（Harmonia axyridis，鞘翅目Coleoptera，瓢虫科Coccinellidae）的鞘翅色斑、体型与性别对淡色赤霉菌（Hesperomyces virescens，子囊菌门Ascomycota，虫囊菌目Laboulbeniales）的寄生率及感染强度的影响》，刊载于*Insects* 第9卷第2期，第67页，DOI：10.3390/insects9020067。 **摘要：** 异色瓢虫（Harmonia axyridis）是一种入侵性瓢虫（鞘翅目Coleoptera，瓢虫科Coccinellidae），在其入侵分布区内具备排挤本地瓢虫物种的潜力。该物种曾作为生物防治因子被引入多个国家，同时也在诸多地区发生无意扩散。淡色赤霉菌（Hesperomyces virescens，子囊菌门Ascomycota，虫囊菌目Laboulbeniales）是一种小型（尺寸200~400μm）活体营养型真菌，可侵染超过30种瓢虫。本研究旨在评估异色瓢虫的鞘翅色斑、体型与性别是否会影响其被淡色赤霉菌侵染的情况。异色瓢虫的体色与其体内一种抗菌生物碱——哈莫宁（harmonine）的存在密切相关。 2016年秋季，我们在马萨诸塞州剑桥市采集了763头异色瓢虫个体，其中119头（占比16%）带有淡色赤霉菌的子实体。我们对其中160头个体（80头被侵染，80头未被侵染）的淡色赤霉菌感染强度开展了分析。通过数码摄影与分析方法对鞘翅尺寸及色斑模式进行量化。结果显示，体型更小的瓢虫具有更高的寄生率与更强的感染强度。此外，雄性瓢虫的菌体数量多于雌性瓢虫。尽管我们在黑化程度更高的雄性个体中观察到感染强度略高的趋势，但在本数据集内，鞘翅色斑对虫囊菌目（Laboulbeniales）真菌的寄生率与感染强度均无显著影响。上述结果表明，虫囊菌目真菌的生长发育可能受到某些昆虫生物碱的影响。 **关键词：** 活体营养互作，入侵物种，体色多态性，异色瓢虫（harlequin ladybird），哈莫宁（harmonine）