Abstract
This study examines the foraging behaviour of Campoplex dubitator Horstmann (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a parasitoid of the highly concealed bark-mining host, Enarmonia formosana Scopoli (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and how this foraging behaviour is affected by host density. The ultimate aim was to determine whether foraging behaviour and patch fidelity could explain patterns of parasitism in the field. An ethogram was first constructed to portray C. dubitator behaviour prior to and immediately following host attacks. The pre-attack behavioural sequence was highly structured whereas behavioural transitions became less predictable after a sting event. Females spent more time on patches with higher host densities and host encounters caused a significant reduction in the leaving tendency. The giving up time was only slightly affected by host encounters. Campoplex dubitator did not demonstrate the ability to distinguish between occupied and empty host mines. The results show that C. dubitator forages more efficiently at lower host densities and this behavioural phenomenon may result in the patterns of parasitism observed in the field.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.References
Bakker K, van Alphen JJM, van Batenburg FHD, van der Hoeven N, Nell HW, van Strien-van Liempt WTFH, Turlings TC (1985) The function of host discrimination and superparasitization in parasitoids. Oecologia 10:29–57
Blumberg D, Luck RF (1990) Differences in the rates of superparasitism between two strains of Comperiella bifasciata (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encrytidae) parasitizing California red scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae): an adaptation to circumvent encapsulation? Ann Entomol Soc Am 83:591–597
Charlton RE, Cardé RT (1990) Behavioral interactions in the courtship of Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 83:89–96
Charnov EL (1976) Optimal foraging: the marginal value theorem. Theor Popul Biol 9:129–136
Dang PT, Parker DJ (1990) First records of Enarmonia formosana (Scopoli) in North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). J Entomol Soc BC 87:3–6
Driessen G, Bernstein C (1999) Patch departure mechanisms and optimal host exploitation in an insect parasitoid. J Anim Ecol 68:445–459
Fagen RM, Young DY (1978) Temporal patterns of behaviour: durations, intervals, latencies, and sequences. In: Colgan PW (ed) Quantitative ethology. Wiley, New York, pp 79–114
Godfray HCJ (1994) Parasitoids: behavioural and evolutionary ecology. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Haye T, Goulet H, Mason PG, Kuhlmann U (2005) Does fundamental host range match ecological host range? A retrospective case study of a Lygus plant bug parasitoid. Biol Control 35:55–67
Hoffmeister TS (2000) Marking decisions and host discrimination in a parasitoid attacking concealed hosts. Can J Zool 78:1494–1499
Hoffmeister T, Roitberg BD (2002) Evolutionary ecology of oviposition marking pheromones. In: Hilker M, Meiner T (eds) Chemoecology of insect eggs and egg deposition. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 319–347
Horstmann K (1985) Revision der mit difformis (Gmelin, 1790) verwandten westpaläarktischen Arten der Gattung Campoplex Gravenhorst, 1829 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Entomofauna 6:129–163
Huffaker CB, Simmonds FJ, Laing JE (1976) The theoretical and empirical basis of biological control. In: Huffaker CB, Messenger PS (eds) Theory and practice of biological control. Academic, New York, pp 41–78
Iwasa Y, Higashi M, Yamamura N (1981) Prey distribution as a factor determining the choice of optimal foraging strategy. Amer Nat 117:710–723
Jenner WH (2003) European parasitoids of the cherry bark tortrix: assessing the ichneumonid, Campoplex dubitator as a potential classical biological control agent for North America, M.Sc. thesis, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
Jenner WH, Kuhlmann U (2006) Significance of host size for a solitary endoparasitoid: a trade-off between fitness parameters. Basic Appl Ecol 7:461–471
Jenner WH, Kuhlmann U, Cossentine JE, Roitberg BD (2004) Phenology, distribution, and the natural parasitoid community of the cherry bark tortrix. Biol Control 31:72–82
Jenner WH, Kuhlmann U, Cossentine JE, Roitberg BD (2005) Reproductive biology and small-scale rearing of cherry bark tortrix and its candidate biological control agent. J Appl Entomol 129:437–442
Kalbfleisch JD, Prentice RL (2002) The statistical analysis of failure time data, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York
Klaus M (1992) Cherry bark tortrix survey report. Washington State Department of Agriculture, Yakima, WA
Murdoch WW, Briggs CJ, Nisbet RM (1997) Dynamical effects of host size- and parasitoid state-dependent attacks by parasitoids. J Anim Ecol 66:542–56
Nelson JM, Roitberg BD (1995) Flexible patch time allocation by the leafminer parasitoid, Opius dimidiatus. Ecol Entomol 20:245–252
Ode P, Heinz KM (2002) Host-size-dependent sex ratio theory and improving mass-reared parasitoid sex ratios. Biol Control 24:31–41
Outreman Y, Le Ralec A, Wajnberg E, Pierre JS (2001) Can imperfect host discrimination explain partial patch exploitation in parasitoids? Ecol Entomol 26:271–280
Potting RPJ, Snellen HM, Vet LEM (1997) Fitness consequences of superparasitism and mechanism of host discrimination in the stemborer parasitoid Cotesia flavipes. Entomol Exp Appl 82:342–348
Powell W (1986) Enhancing parasitoid activity in crops. In: Waage JK, Greathead D (eds) Insect parasitoids. Academic, London, pp 319–340
Roitberg BD (2004) From parasitoid behavior to biological control: applied behavioral ecology. Can Ent 136:289–297
Roitberg BD (2007) Why pest management needs behavioural ecology and vice versa. Entomol Res 37:14–18
Rosenheim JA, Mangel M (1994) Patch-leaving rules for parasitoids with imperfect host discrimination. Ecol Entomol 19:374–380
Shorey HH, Hale RL (1965) Mass-rearing of the larvae of nine noctuid species on a simple artificial medium. J Econ Entomol 58:522–524
SPSS Inc (2005) SPSS base 14.0 user’s guide. SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL
van Alphen JJM, Vet LEM (1986) An evolutionary approach to host finding and selection. In: Waage JK, Greathead D (eds) Insect parasitoids. Academic, London, pp 23–61
van Alphen JJM, Visser ME (1990) Superparasitism as an adaptive strategy for insect parasitoids. Ann Rev Entomol 35:59–79
van Alphen JJM, Bernstein C, Driessen G (2003) Information acquisition and patch time allocation in insect parasitoids. Trends Ecol Evol 18:81–87
Waage JK (1986) Family planning in parasitoids: adaptive patterns of progeny and sex allocation. In: Waage JK, Greathead D (eds) Insect parasitoids. Academic, London, pp 63–95
Waage JK (1990) Ecological theory and the selection of biological control agents. In: Mackauer M, Ehler LE, Roland J (eds) Critical issues in biological control. Intercept, New York, pp 135–157
Wajnberg E (2006) Time allocation strategies in insect parasitoids: from ultimate predictions to proximate behavioral mechanisms. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 60:589–611
Wajnberg E, Bernstein C, van Alphen JJM (eds) (2007) Behavioral ecology of insect parasitoids: from theoretical approaches to field applications. Wiley-Blackwell, London
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the field and laboratory assistance of Erik Osborn, for the valuable statistical support from Dr. Thomas Hoffmeister and for helpful comments by anonymous reviewers. We also thank Dr. Emma Hunt and Dr. Naomi Cappuccino for comments on an earlier draft of this paper. This research was carried out as a component of the classical biological control project against CBT and was funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, NSERC and a Graduate Research Engineering and Technology (GREAT) Award from the Science Council of British Columbia.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jenner, W.H., Roitberg, B.D. Foraging Behaviour and Patch Exploitation by Campoplex dubitator (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a Parasitoid of Bark-mining Larvae. J Insect Behav 22, 257–272 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-008-9171-y
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-008-9171-y