Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2000) 97, 57-66

Andrew Chow (2000)
Influence of host distribution on foraging behaviour in the hyperparasitoid wasp, Dendrocerus carpenteri
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 97 (1), 57-66
Abstract: The foraging behaviour of Dendrocerus carpenteri Curtis (Hymenoptera: Megaspilidae), an ectophagous hyperparasitoid of aphidiine wasps inside mummified aphids, was examined in the laboratory with an experimental system consisting of broad bean, Vicia faba L, the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris, and a primary parasitoid, Ephedrus californicus Baker. Pea aphids parasitised by E. californicus often disperse from their feeding sites (or off host plants) before dying and mummifying. Response of female hyperparasitoids to host distribution was evaluated at two spatial scales. At the first scale, behaviour of hyperparasitoids was examined on individual plants with different densities of hosts. At the second scale, habitat complexity and host location were manipulated in large foraging cages containing several plants. I show that patterns of density-dependent hyperparasitism can result from the foraging behaviour of D. carpenteri. However, dispersal of parasitised aphids may not reduce the incidence of hyperparasitism if hyperparasitoids systematically search the habitat.
(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): Andrew Chow

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.
	Acyrthosiphon pisum	Broad/faba bean (Vicia faba)
Ephedrus californicus (parasitoid)	Acyrthosiphon pisum	Broad/faba bean (Vicia faba)