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Time allocation strategies in insect parasitoids: from ultimate predictions to proximate behavioral mechanisms

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Abstract

As most parasitoids are time limited, they usually die before they have laid all their eggs. In such cases, optimal foraging theory predicts that female parasitoids will adopt behavioral reproductive strategies enabling them to maximize progeny production per unit of time. One key situation in which parasitoid females must optimize their time budget is related to the fact that most of their hosts are distributed in discrete patches in the environment. In this review, I first present the results of basic theoretical models predicting female wasp search duration on a patch of hosts. I then compile and analyze all studies investigating the effect of different factors on parasitoid patch time allocation and patch-leaving decision rules. Different patch-leaving mechanisms that were proposed to explain the results obtained are discussed, along with statistical methods that should be used to estimate them from experimental data. Finally, ideas for future research are presented.

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Acknowledgements

E. Mondor is thanked for his comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. This work is part of GDR 2155 ‘Ecologie Comportementale’ (CNRS commission 29) and the ESF/BEPAR scientific program.

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  1. INRA, 400 Route des Chappes, BP 167, 06903, Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France

    Éric Wajnberg

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Communicated by H. Kokko

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Wajnberg, É. Time allocation strategies in insect parasitoids: from ultimate predictions to proximate behavioral mechanisms. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 60, 589–611 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-006-0198-9

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