Summary
The effect of group size of early instars on parasitism of Euphydryas phaeton (Nymphalidae) was examined. Different numbers of larvae were stocked per web to determine the effect of group size on parasitism. Larval aggregations of moderate size (the size occurring naturally) had the least parasitism. Larger larval groups had a disproportionately high rate of parasitism. The major larval parasitoids located vulnerable larvae within webs, instead of attacking larvae available on the outside of webs. Parasitism rates were similar for larvae of damaged and undamaged webs, a consequence of the behavior and location of larvae in the webs. Lower limit to group size was a function of facilitation of larval numbers in reaching the first feeding site, the top of the host plant. Feeding facilitation by larval aggregations was not a factor in larval survival or growth.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allee W, Park O, Emerson A, Park T, Schmidt K (1949) Principles of animal ecology. Saunders, Philadelphia, p 837
Bertram BCR (1978) Living in groups: predators and prey. In: Behavioural ecology JR Krebs, NB Davies (ed), Sinauer, Sunderland, Mass, p 64–96
Burnett T (1958) Effect of host distribution on the reproduction of Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Can Entomol 90:179–191
Bush GL (1969) Trail laying by larvae of Chlosyne lacinia. Ann Entomol Soc Amer 62:674–675
Carlson RW (1979) Ichneumonidae. In: Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico, Vol. 1, Symphyta and Apocrita (Parasitica) KV Krombein, PD Hurd, Jr, DR Smith, BD Burk (ed), Smithsonian Inst, Washington, D.C., p 315–740
Dempster JP (1971) The population ecology of the cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae L. (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae). Oecologia (Berl) 7:26–67
Dethier V (1959) Food-plant distribution and density and larval dispersal as factors affecting insect populations. Can Entomol 91:581–596
Fisher RA (1958) The genetical theory of natural selection, 2nd rev ed, Dover, New York, p 291
Fitzgerald TD (1976) Trail marking by larvae of the eastern tent caterpillar. Science 194:961–963
Ford EB (1975) Butterflies, rev ed, Collins, London, p 368
Ghent AW (1960) A study of the group-feeding behaviour of larvae of the jack pine sawfly, Neodiprion pratti banksianae Roh. Behaviour 16:110–148
Hirose Y, Kimoto H, Hiehata K (1976) The effect of host aggregation on parasitism by Trichogramma papilionis Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), an egg parasitoid of Papilio xuthus Linné (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Appl Entomol Zool 11:116–125
Laing J (1937) Host finding of insect parasites. I. Observations on the finding of hosts by Alysia manducator, Mormoniella vitripennis and Trichogramma evanescens. J Anim Ecol 6:298–317
Laing J (1938) Host finding by insect parasites. II. The chance of Trichogramma evanescens finding its hosts. J Exp Biol 15:281–302
Long D (1953) Effects of population density on larvae of Lepidoptera. Trans R Entomol Soc Lond 104:543–585
Long D (1955) Observations on sub-social behaviour in two species of lepidopterous larvae, Pieris brassicae L. and Plusia gamma L. Trans R Entomol Soc Lond 106:421–436
Lyons LA (1962) The effect of aggregation on egg and larval survival in Neodiprion swainei Midd. (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae). Can Entomol 94:49–58
Marsh PM (1979) Braconidae. In: KV Krombein, PD Hurd, Jr, DR Smith, BD Burk (Ed) Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico, Vol 1, Symphyta and Apocrita (Parasitica), Smithsonian Inst DC, p 144–295
Matthews RW (1974) Biology of Braconidae. Ann Rev Entomol 19:15–32
McEvoy PB (1979) Advantages and disadvantages to group living in treehoppers (Homoptera: Membracidae). Misc Publ Entomol Soc Amer 11:1–13
Miller CA (1955) A technique for assessing larval mortality caused by parasites. Can J Zool 33:5–17
Mizuta K (1960) Effect of individual number on the development and survival of the larvae of two lymantriid species living in aggregation and in scattering. (English summary). Jap J Appl Entomol Zool 4:146–152
Morris RF (1963) The effect of predator age and prey defense on the functional response of Podisus maculiventris Say to the density of Hyphantria cunea Drury. Can Entomol 95:1009–1020
Morris RF (1972a) Fecundity and colony size in natural populations of Hyphantria cunea. Can Entomol 104:399–409
Morris RF (1972b) Predation by insects and spiders inhabiting colonial webs of Hyphantria cunea. Can Entomol 104:1197–1207
Morris RF (1972c) Predation by wasps, birds, and mammals on Hyphantria cunea. Can Entomol 104:1581–1591
Morris RF (1976) Relation of parasite attack to the colonial habit of Hyphantria cunea. Can Entomol 108:833–836
Myers JH, Campbell BJ (1976) Distribution and dispersal in populations capable of resource depletion: a field study on cinnabar moth. Oecologia (Berl) 24:7–20
Price PW (1975) Reproductive strategies of parasitoids. In: Evolutionary strategies of parasitic insects and mites PW Price (ed), Plenum, New York, p 87–111
Rausher MD (1979) Egg recognition: its advantage to a butterfly. Anim Behav 27:1034–1040
Royama T (1970) Factors governing the hunting behaviour and food selection of the great tit (Parus major L.). J Anim Ecol 39:619–688
Stamp NE (1980a) Egg deposition patterns in butterflies: why do some species cluster their eggs rather than deposit them singly? Amer Natur 115:367–380
Stamp NE (1980b) Effect of group size on an egg-clustering butterfly. Dissertation. Univ of Maryland, College Park, Md, p 94
Tinbergen N, Impekoven M, Franck D (1967) An experiment on spacing-out as a defence against predation. Behaviour 28:307–321
Tostowaryk W (1971) Relationship between parasitism and predation of diprionid sawflies. Ann Entomol Soc Amer 64:1424–1427
Tostowaryk W (1972) The effect of prey defense on the functional response of Podisus modestus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to densities of the sawflies Neodiprion swainei and N. pratti banksianae (Hymenoptera: Neodiprionidae). Can Entomol 104:61–69
Vinson SB (1976) Host selection by insect parasitoids. Ann Rev Entomol 21:109–133
Watanabe N, Umeya K (1968) Biology of Hyphantria cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) in Japan. IV. Effects of group size on survival and growth of larvae. Res Bull Plant Prot Serv Jap No 6
Wellington W (1957) Individual differences as a factor in population dynamics: the development of a problem. Can J Zool 35:293–323
Wilson EO (1975) Sociobiology. Belknap, Cambridge, Mass, p 697
Witter JA, Kulman HM, Hodson AC (1972) Life tables for the forest tent caterpillars. Ann Entomol Soc Amer 65:25–31
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stamp, N.E. Effect of group size on parasitism in a natural population of the Baltimore checkerspot Euphydryas phaeton . Oecologia 49, 201–206 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349188
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349188