Journal of Insect Behavior (2007) 20, 229-246

Evelyne Hougardy and Nicholas J. Mills (2007)
Influence of host deprivation and egg expenditure on the patch and host-finding behavior of the parasitoid wasp Mastrus ridibundus
Journal of Insect Behavior 20 (2), 229-246
Abstract: The influence of host deprivation and egg expenditure on the host location behavior of Mastrus ridibundus was evaluated under controlled conditions in a walk-in field cage in a greenhouse. The activity of females peaked at a temperature of 25-27°C generating two peaks of activity through the day. Increased host deprivation did not influence patch and host-finding success: females responded to host stimuli even after 9 days of host deprivation. In contrast, the longer M. ridibundus was exposed to excess hosts, the greater was the reduction in patch and host-finding success. Egg depletion expressed as the percentage of realized lifetime fecundity expended, rather than egg load, offered a good match for this decline. These results are discussed in the context of biological control introductions and the choice of pre-release treatment.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Evelyne Hougardy, Nicholas J. Mills

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cydia pomonella
Mastrus ridibundus (parasitoid)	Cydia pomonella