Ecological Entomology (2010) 35, 341-351

T. Martijn Bezemer, Jeffrey A. Harvey, André F.D. Kamp, Roel Wagenaar, Rieta Gols, Olga Kostenko, Taiadjana Fortuna, Tim Engelkes, Louise E.M. Vet, Wim H. Van Der Putten and Roxina Soler (2010)
Behaviour of male and female parasitoids in the field: influence of patch size, host density, and habitat complexity
Ecological Entomology 35 (3), 341-351
Abstract: 1. Two field experiments were carried out to examine the role of patch size, host density, and complexity of the surrounding habitat, on the foraging behaviour of the parasitoid wasp Cotesia glomerata in the field.
2. First, released parasitoids were recaptured on patches of one or four Brassica nigra plants, each containing 10 hosts that were placed in a mown grassland area. Recaptures of females were higher than males, and males and females aggregated at patches with four plants.
3. In experiment 2, plants containing 0, 5 or 10 hosts were placed in unmown grassland plots that differed in plant species composition, on bare soil, and on mown grassland. Very low numbers of parasitoids were recaptured in the vegetated plots, while high numbers of parasitoids were recaptured on plants placed on bare soil or in mown grassland. Recaptures were higher on plants on bare soil than on mown grassland, and highest on plants containing 10 hosts. The host density effect was significantly more apparent in mown grassland than on bare soil.
4. Cotesia glomerata responds in an aggregative way to host density in the field. However, host location success is determined mostly by habitat characteristics, and stronger host or host-plant cues are required when habitat complexity increases.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): T. Martijn Bezemer, Rieta Gols, Jeffrey A. Harvey, Louise E.M. Vet, Tim Engelkes

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Pieris brassicae
Cotesia glomerata (parasitoid)	Pieris brassicae