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Host selection and larval interactions among three primary parasitoids ofPlathypena scabra (Lep.: noctuidae)

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Abstract

Three hymenopteran parasitoids that attackPlathypena scabra (F.) larvae often oviposit into consecutive instars of the host. We investigated host discrimination by adults and competitive interactions among larvae of these three parasitoid species. Avoidance of superparasitism byCotesia marginiventris (Cresson) andDiolcogaster facetosa Ashmead was tested. Females of each species were presented either withP. scabra parasitized by a different female of the same species 6 h earlier or unparasitizedP. scabra. Under these conditions,C. marginiventris attacked similar numbers of parasitized and unparasitized hosts.D. facetosa attacked 31% fewer parasitized than unparasitizedP. scabra. The avoidance of multiple parasitism byD. facetosa was studied in a similar bioassay. AlthoughD. facetosa females parasitized fewerP. scabra that had been attacked byC. marginiventris 6 h previously, the reduction in parasitism was only about 23%. In competition studies, immatureD. facetosa were better competitors than immatureC. marginiventris. Aleiodes (=Rogas) nolophanae (Ashmead) was an inferior competitor against bothC. marginiventris andD. facetosa when the duration between parasitism events was 1 h, but their competitive ability increased when they multiply parasitized hosts at least 32 h after the initial oviposition.

Résumé

Les larves dePlathypena scabra (Lep.: Noctuidae) sont parasitées par trois espèces d'Hyménoptères parasitoïdes qui pondent souvent dans trois stades larvaires consécutifs de l'hôte. Nous avons étudié le choix de l'hôte par les adultes et les relations de compétition entre les larves de ces trois parasitoïdes. La faculté d'éviter le superparasitisme a été étudiée chezCotesia marginiventris (Cresson) etDiolcogaster facetosa Ashmead. Des larves deP. scabra parasitées 6 h plus tôt par une autre femelle de la même espèce ou des larves non parasitées ont été offertes à des femelles de ces deux espèces de parasitoïdes. Dans ces conditions,C. marginiventris attaque un nombre semblable deP. scabra parasités et non parasités alors queD. facetosa attaque 31% de moins deP. scabra parasitées que non parasitées. La faculté d'éviter le multiparasitisme a également été étudiée chezD. facetosa dans une expérience similaire. Bien que les femelles deD. facetosa parasitent moins deP. scabra attaquées 6 h plus tôt parC. marginiventris, la réduction du parasitisme était seulement d'environ 23%. Dans les situations de compétition, les larves deD. facetosa l'emportaient sur celles deC. marginiventris. Aleiodes (=Rogas) nolophanae (Ashmead) était éliminé lorsque les larves de cette espèce étaient mises en compétition avecC. marginiventris ou avecD. facetosa si le délai entre les 2 ovipositions était inférieur à une heure, mais leur degré de compétitivité augmentait lorsque le délai était supérieur à 32 h après l'oviposition initiale.

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  1. M. E. Baur

    Present address: Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, 40546, Lexington, KY, USA

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  1. Dept. of Nematology, University of California, Davis, 95616, USA

    M. E. Baur & K. V. Yeargan

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Baur, M.E., Yeargan, K.V. Host selection and larval interactions among three primary parasitoids ofPlathypena scabra (Lep.: noctuidae) . Entomophaga 40, 357–366 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02373723

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