白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂学习行为的研究

肿腿蜂是防治林木蛀干害虫的重要天敌。为了解肿腿蜂搜索寄主的行为机制,研究了白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂Sclerodermus pupariae Yang et Yao搜索和寄生我国重大林木蛀干害虫——栗山天牛Massicus raddei(Blessig)幼虫过程中的学习行为。结果表明,白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂的记忆效应随着搜索次数的增加而增加。用寄主虫粪和木屑混合物预处理后,白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂搜索到寄主的时间缩短。不同学习经历的白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂对与寄主栗山天牛相关的气味源物质嗅觉测定结果表明,白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂经历栗山天牛幼虫虫粪和蛀屑环境后明显倾向于选择栗山天牛虫粪和木屑混合物,而经历栗山天牛幼虫或辽东栎树皮环境的肿腿蜂对相应的气味选择偏好性不显著。研究结果表明,多寄主型寄生蜂白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂具有较强的联系性学习能力有利于用来防治多种非原始寄主害虫,能够明显提高其对新寄主的寄生作用。     

Functional response of the parasitoid Sclerodermus sp.(Hymenoptera:Bethylidae) to the third instar larvae of host Monochamus alternatus ( Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

为评估松褐天牛肿腿蜂Sclerodermus sp.(膜翅目:肿腿蜂科)对其寄主松褐天牛Monochamus alternatus 3龄幼虫的控制作用,通过功能反应试验,研究了松褐天牛肿腿蜂对松褐天牛3龄幼虫补充营养时期的捕食功能反应和补充营养后的寄生功能反应以及肿腿蜂的密度效应.结果表明:当松褐天牛肿腿蜂密度固定为1头/缸时,肿腿蜂因补充营养对松褐天牛3龄幼虫的捕食功能反应符合Holling Ⅱ型方程,1头松褐大牛肿腿蜂雌蜂对松褐天牛3龄幼虫的最大致死量为9.48头,平均为3.75头;寄生作用的功能反应符合Holling Ⅰ型方程,可知肿腿蜂的寄主密度阈限为4头就能满足补充营养和寄生的需要;在捕食和寄生两个阶段其对松褐天牛幼虫的寻找效应随着寄主密度的增加呈线性减弱.当松褐天牛幼虫密度固定为30头/缸时,随着肿腿蜂的密度增加,其补充营养阶段的捕食作用和之后的寄生作用均呈线性升高,寻找效应则呈线性减弱;由蜂虫比和致死总量的模型可得肿腿蜂与天牛幼虫比例为0.9805(近1∶1)时,可使松褐天牛幼虫死亡总数最大.这些结果表明,松褐天牛肿腿蜂是松褐天牛幼虫期的有效天敌.本研究为评价松褐天牛肿腿蜂对寄主的控制能力提供了基础数据和方法,并为其在野外的释放量提供了依据.     

松褐天牛肿腿蜂对寄主松褐天牛三龄幼虫的功能反应

为评估松褐天牛肿腿蜂Sclerodermus sp.（膜翅目： 肿腿蜂科）对其寄主松褐天牛Monochamus alternatus 3 龄幼虫的控制作用, 通过功能反应试验, 研究了松褐天牛肿腿蜂对松褐天牛3 龄幼虫补充营养时期的捕食功能反应和补充营养后的寄生功能反应以及肿腿蜂的密度效应。结果表明： 当松褐天牛肿腿蜂密度固定为1 头/缸时, 肿腿蜂因补充营养对松褐天牛3 龄幼虫的捕食功能反应符合Holling Ⅱ型方程, 1 头松褐天牛肿腿蜂雌蜂对松褐天牛3 龄幼虫的最大致死量为9.48 头, 平均为3.75 头; 寄生作用的功能反应符合Holling Ⅰ型方程, 可知肿腿蜂的寄主密度阈限为4 头就能满足补充营养和寄生的需要; 在捕食和寄生两个阶段其对松褐天牛幼虫的寻找效应随着寄主密度的增加呈线性减弱。当松褐天牛幼虫密度固定为30 头/缸时, 随着肿腿蜂的密度增加, 其补充营养阶段的捕食作用和之后的寄生作用均呈线性升高, 寻找效应则呈线性减弱; 由蜂虫比和致死总量的模型可得肿腿蜂与天牛幼虫比例为0.9805（近1∶1）时, 可使松褐天牛幼虫死亡总数最大。这些结果表明, 松褐天牛肿腿蜂是松褐天牛幼虫期的有效天敌。本研究为评价松褐天牛肿腿蜂对寄主的控制能力提供了基础数据和方法, 并为其在野外的释放量提供了依据。     

栗山天牛幼虫天敌白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂的转主寄主研究

在利用白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂Sclerodermus pupariae防治世代周期长、 发育整齐的害虫栗山天牛Massicus raddei中, 我们发现该天敌只在寄主1-3龄幼虫时具有良好的寄生效果, 而对3龄以上的中老龄幼虫基本不寄生。为了了解释放白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂后其种群能否在栎树林间延续下去, 达到持续控制靶标害虫的效果, 我们调查了其在栎树林间的转主寄主。结果表明： 白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂除了寄生栗山天牛外, 还能寄生双簇天牛Moechotypa diphysis、 四点象天牛Mesosa myops和栎块斑吉丁Lamprodila virgata幼虫。白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂寄生不同转主寄主幼虫的成功率差异显著, 对栎块斑吉丁和双簇天牛幼虫的寄生率最高, 分别为76.67%和73.33%。寄生上述4种寄主时, 其雌蜂在不同寄主上的产卵前期、 产卵量及第2代雌蜂出蜂量、 出蜂率、 体长和寿命等差异不显著, 只有幼虫期和蛹期历期及第2代雌蜂有翅率和雌雄性比略有差异。室内模拟林间寄生试验表明, 白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂对双簇天牛和四点象天牛幼虫的寄生率较高。对双簇天牛和四点象天牛野外生活史研究发现, 这2种天牛幼虫在白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂不适宜寄生的栗山天牛中老龄幼虫期、 蛹期和成虫期均大量存在, 表明双簇天牛和四点象天牛是白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂在栎树林中的主要转主寄主。本研究说明, 在利用白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂生物防治栗山天牛中, 白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂在林间寄生栗山天牛的1-3龄幼虫后, 可转移寄生双簇天牛等转主寄主, 以延续其种群, 待下一代栗山天牛幼龄幼虫出现时再转移寄生栗山天牛, 达到持续控制栗山天牛的防治效果。     

肿腿蜂类寄生蜂室内控害效能评价——以松脊吉丁肿腿蜂为例

为了开发利用天敌资源防治害虫,科学而客观地评价肿腿蜂对蛀干害虫的控害作用,研究了松脊吉丁肿腿蜂(Sclerodermus sp.)对松褐天牛3龄幼虫的功能反应,建立了肿腿蜂类寄生蜂室内控害效能评价体系,并证明了其可行性。该评价体系包括供试虫源标准、寄生蜂生物学与寄生行为学观察、寄生蜂对寄主的功能反应和寻找寄主效应以及寄生蜂的忠岐指数(Y)4个部分。研究结果表明:松脊吉丁肿腿蜂具有较强的控害潜力,单头雌成虫能防治3—4头松褐天牛3龄幼虫,21d内最多可致死9.07头寄主幼虫;寄主密度对单头寄生蜂寄生作用功能反应的测定结果与对寄生作用寻找效应的测定结果以及对产卵量影响的测定结果一致;综合评价该蜂对松褐天牛3龄幼虫控制效能,释放比为1∶1(即1头肿腿蜂雌蜂:1头3龄松褐天牛幼虫)时最高,其忠岐指数Y为39.63,这可能是肿腿蜂类天敌特有的抚幼习性所致,结论也与寄生蜂生物学特性及寄生行为学观察结果相同。研究结论证明该评价体系是稳定可靠的。评价体系在利用天敌昆虫生物防治害虫时为筛选最佳寄生性天敌种类提供了可行的方法和依据。     

布氏潜蝇茧蜂对橘小实蝇幼虫寄生作用的研究

在试验室条件下研究了布氏潜蝇茧蜂Fopius vandenboschi(Fullaway)的寄生习性。结果表明:该寄生蜂嗜好寄生低龄的橘小实蝇幼虫;橘小实蝇幼虫的密度对布氏潜蝇茧蜂的寄生有明显的影响;被寄生的幼虫数随寄主自身密度的增加而增加,当寄主幼虫密度达每果片30只以上时,寄生数量的增加幅度就趋于下降,用Holling圆盘方程模拟为Na=0.9051N/(1 0.0163N)。此外,布氏潜蝇茧蜂的自身密度对寄生作用也有影响,随着寄生蜂数量的增加,寄生蜂的发现域逐渐变小,用Hassell-Varley方程表示为α=0.4655P-0.5807。     

白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂的生物学和生态学特性及繁殖技术研究

采用室内测定并结合林间实地调查的方法,研究了新发现的寄生于蛀干害虫白蜡窄吉丁的外寄生蜂——白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂Sclerodermus pupariae Yang et Yao的生物学特性及其人工繁殖技术。结果表明,白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂外寄生于白蜡窄吉丁的幼虫和蛹及预蛹,是自然控制该害虫的一种重要寄生蜂,自然寄生率为13.9%左右。该蜂在天津1年发生5代,世代重叠明显,寿命长。白蜡吉丁肿腿蜂的卵、幼虫、茧蛹期和全世代的发育起点温度分别为（16.89±0.79）℃,（17.03±1.42）℃,（16.90±1.68）℃和（15.31±0.47）℃。有效积温分别为（33.82±4.13）日·度、（49.11±7.93）日·度、（128.88±27.87）日·度和（277.00±14.15）日·度。雌性成蜂易于低温保存,对寄主有较强的搜索力和攻击力。繁蜂寄主容易大量获得,是生物防治白蜡窄吉丁的重要理想天敌之一。     

白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂的寄生和繁殖生物学

白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂Spathius agrili Yang是我国天津地区寄生白蜡窄吉丁幼虫的一种重要天敌。本研究通过林间调查并结合室内观察,测定了该寄生蜂在不同营养条件下的存活时间和不同时期的产卵量,调查了不同寄主大小对寄生蜂后代生长发育的影响,以及寄生蜂对不同深度树皮下的寄主利用情况。结果表明：不同营养条件下白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂的存活时间差异很大,补充20％蜂蜜水的成蜂存活时间明显延长,最长可达3个月。相同条件下雌蜂的存活时间比雄蜂略长。在补充营养的条件下,茧蜂的产卵时间最长可达8周,产卵的高蜂在羽化后第2周前后,平均每雌每周产卵量在整个产卵期内基本保持在8～12粒上下,没有大的波动。茧蜂低龄幼虫也可能分泌毒素主动攻击寄主,提高了寄生蜂后代的生存能力。寄主个体大,营养量也大,寄生其上的茧蜂幼虫成功完成发育的数量随之增加,表明寄主营养资源的多少直接影响到寄生蜂后代的生长发育和存活。白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂对1～6.5 mm树皮深度范围内的适龄寄主幼虫均能够寄生利用,约92％的被寄生白蜡窄吉丁幼虫个体分布于1～4 mm深度的树皮下,在3 mm厚的树皮下分布的数量最多。茧蜂数量与树皮深度大致上呈抛物线关系,理论上在树皮深度为3.97 mm处茧蜂分布数量最多。     

管氏肿腿蜂密度对其寄生及繁衍能力的影响

本研究以管氏肿腿蜂 Sclerodermus guani 雌成蜂为研究对象,拟探明寄生蜂密度对其寄生及繁衍能力的影响,为该寄生蜂行为生物学研究提供科学依据。本研究以松墨天牛 Monochamus alternatus 幼虫（0.350~0.450 g）为寄主,设置8种不同雌蜂密度（1~8头/寄主）,对比分析不同雌蜂密度下,管氏肿腿蜂的寄生行为和效能,以及雌蜂生殖力和子代适合度变化。结果表明,随雌蜂密度增加,管氏肿腿蜂蛰刺发生前历时、寄主麻痹历时及产卵前历时均缩短。基于Hassell-Varley数据模型分析(E =0.9023×P^-0.9378）,雌蜂的寻找效应随自身密度增加而逐渐变小,雌蜂间的干扰降低了寄生效能。雌蜂生殖力随其密度增加而降低,单雌平均产卵量及产雌量明显下降,雌蜂密度为1头/寄主时,单雌产卵量分别是4头/寄主和8头/寄主处理下的1.4倍和2.4倍。子代适合度也随雌蜂密度增加而变化,子代发育历期明显缩短,低龄幼虫存活率和单雌体重均下降。雌蜂密度为1头/寄主时,其子代发育历期最长,平均为26.7 d,8头/寄主时最短,平均为24.0 d。雌蜂密度为1头/寄主时低龄幼虫存活率和单雌体重分别是8头/寄主时的1.1倍和2.1倍。随雌蜂密度增加,子代雄性比呈小幅下降趋势,大多数处理子代雄性比低于15%。多头雌蜂寄生可提高克服寄主效率,缩短子代发育历期,增加子代数量,雌蜂密度为4头/寄主时可达到繁殖利益最大化。     

白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂的羽化和产卵与寄主之间的关系

白蜡窄吉丁是危害白蜡属树木的一种重要蛀干害虫,因其幼虫期高度的隐蔽性生活而极难检测和防治.白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂是新发现外寄生于白蜡窄吉丁幼虫的优势天敌种,对寄主害虫的控制作用较强,具有良好的生物防治利用前景.研究调查了白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂及其寄主白蜡窄吉丁越冬代成虫羽化的时序差异、不同时期林间的寄生率、寄主密度与寄生率的关系以及寄主幼虫大小与茧蜂产卵量的关系.结果表明,越冬后白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂的羽化时间比其寄主害虫白蜡窄吉丁的羽化要晚1个多月.2003年白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂越冬代成虫的羽化从6月中旬持续到8月中旬,羽化高峰期在7月份;寄主白蜡窄吉丁的羽化期在5月中下旬.2004年白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂越冬代成虫的羽化从5月下旬持续到7月下旬,羽化高峰期在6月下旬至7月上旬;寄主羽化期在4月中旬至5月中旬（室内）.越冬后天敌的羽化时间刚好适应最早寄主发育到可供寄生的龄期,这是二者长期协同进化的结果,也表明白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂很可能是一种专性寄生蜂.林间白蜡吉丁柄腹茧蜂对白蜡窄吉丁幼虫的自然寄生率随着时间的推移总体上是逐步上升的.自然条件下茧蜂决定是否产卵与寄主幼虫的大小即龄期有关,它仅在前胸宽和体宽1.5 mm、体长12 mm以上,即3～4龄的寄主幼虫体表产卵,但只要接受寄主并产卵,不同龄期寄主幼虫上的产卵量无显著的差异.     

Ratio-dependent parasitism with Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on egg rafts of Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): effect of experimental variables and compatibility of 'ratio' and 'Holling' models

Abstract Egg rafts of Nezara viridula were exposed to the parasitoid wasp Trissolcus basalis in experimental arenas to establish the relationship of the rates of attack and parasitism to various combinations of arena size, parasitoid density, host density and parasitoid-to-host ratio. Arena sizes were varied in the ratio 1:9:63, with the largest having a search area of 1.44 m². Parasitoid and host densities were varied over a 27-fold range. The parasitoid-to-host ratios used were 1:1, 3:1 and 6:1. Finding time was related to a constant factor (flight propensity), rather than to the difficulty of finding (density of hosts). Initial attack rates were therefore related only to parasitoid numbers (or density), even at the lower densities and ratios. Parasitism rates (a function of attack rate per host) were thus also strongly related to parasitoid to host ratio, regardless of densities used and arena sizes. Even reducing host density, while keeping time and parasitoid density constant, increased the parasitism rate. A ratio model for parasitism rate was therefore compatible with the data but the more explicit Holling 'disc' equation was also compatible because handling time was sufficiently large to make it sensitive to the ratio of parasitoids to hosts for the densities used. We conclude that the two models would predict different results if the density of host egg rafts was in a range below one per square metre.     

Some effects of insecticide deposit patterns on the parasitism of Trialeurodes vaporariorum by Encarsia formosa

The functional response of Encarsia formosa parasitising Trialeurodes vaporariorum on Phaseolus vulgaris was a typical type II functional response (Holling, 1959) where, with increasing host density, the numbers of hosts parasitised by a single parasitoid show a negatively accelerating rise to an upper plateau. A mean maximum parasitism of 6.6 per female per 24 h reached at host densities near 80 larvae per leaf was observed. When presented with insecticide (‘Pynosect 30 ULV’) deposits, the parasite's search pattern changed, conforming to a typical Sigmoid functional response curve. With a uniform cover spray deposit of 27.6 × 10^-7 ml/cm² searching began only at host densities of c. 80 larvae per leaf and the mean maximum parasitism was only 1.5 per female per 24 h. When the insecticide deposit of 27.6 × 10^-7 ml/cm² was in the form of discrete groups of 100 μm droplets, searching began at host densities of c. 40 larvae per leaf but the mean maximum parasitism was low at 2.2. However by using the same discrete deposit pattern but reducing the deposit level to 2.65 × 10^-7 ml/cm² it was possible to obtain the same high mean maximum parasitism as with the untreated control.     

Functional response and mutual interference of Peristenus spretus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of Apolygus lucorum (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Peristenus spretus Chen & van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary endoparasitoid, which is considered for augmentative biological control of Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür (Heteroptera: Miridae) in Chinese cotton fields. Since the association of P. spretus with A. lucorum was only recently discovered, the biology of the parasitoid remains unknown. In order to understand its reproductive biology, the mutual interference and functional response of P. spretus were investigated by altering either the parasitoid or the host density while keeping the other constant. In both experiments, the effects of parasitoid and host densities on parasitism, superparasitism, progeny production and sex ratio were assessed. P. spretus exhibited a Holling type II functional response to changing host densities, indicating that parasitism increases with increasing host density until the parasitoid reaches its maximum reproductive capacity. The model suggested that a single P. spretus female could parasitise a maximum of 88 nymphs per day or four nymphs per hour. Increasing the wasp-nymph ratio from 1:10 to 1:80 significantly increased the offspring production more than fivefold from ±5.8 to ±35.6; further increasing the host densities (above 80 nymphs) did not significantly increase offspring production. Strong mutual interference of foraging P. spretus females occurred only at high parasitoid densities. Parasitoids foraging alone produced an average progeny of 33.4, whereas parasitoids foraging in groups of 16 produced only 2.6. The optimal wasp-nymph ratio for mass-rearing P. spretus is 4:100, given that resources of parasitoids and nymphs are unlimited.     

Apple sawfly Hoplocampa testudinea (Hym., Tenthredinidae) and its parasitoid Lathrolestes ensator in Dutch apple orchards (Hym., Ichneumonidae, Ctenopelmatinae)

Abstract: Changes in population densities of the apple sawfly Hoplocampa testudinea (Klug) and its parasitoid Lathrolestes ensator (Brauns) were monitored in 15 apple orchards for a period of up to 4 years. The parasitoid species was found in all orchards except one, and was more numerous in plantings on sandier soils. Post‐bloom insecticide applications against other pests, and carbaryl for fruit thinning, often decimated both host and parasitoid in integrated pest management orchards. In organic orchards, where synthetic pesticides are banned, and Quassia is the only remedy against sawfly, the pest is more problematic. The low levels of parasitism in all organic orchards, except one, were possibly due to the application of wettable sulphur during the parasitoid flight period. The sawfly usually recovers more quickly than its parasitoid when chemical control is discontinued, because propagation of L. ensator is limited in various ways. The parasitoid is time limited, because suitable second instar host larvae are rarely available for more than a week on a single apple variety. Moreover, parasitism levels stay moderate because the parasitoid females do not avoid superparasitism. Finally, relatively more sawflies than parasitoids emerge after 10 months underground, because the incidence of prolonged diapause is more elevated in L. ensator than in the sawfly. It is suggested that both the high incidence of prolonged diapause and the inability to avoid superparasitism are useful in reducing the risk of local extinction. Elevated sawfly attack in a single early apple variety would reduce exploitation of suitable host larvae in other nearby varieties, in as far as the parasitoid is not able to distinguish fruitlets with accessible second instar host larvae from those with inaccessible older larvae. Although the former are available for a limited time, the latter may keep the parasitoids from moving to the less abundant second instar larvae in late(r) varieties. Reduction of elevated host density in such an early variety by a properly timed application of a short‐lived pesticide, such as Quassia, increases parasitism levels proportionally, and is expected to promote parasitoid movement to host larvae in other varieties nearby.     

Host stage preference, functional response and mutual interference of Aphidius matricariae (Hym.: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on Aphis fabae (Hom.: Aphididae)

Host stage preference, functional response and mutual interference of Aphidius matricariae (Haliday) (Hym.: Braconidae: Aphidiinae), parasitoid of the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hom.: Aphididae) were investigated in a growth chamber at a temperature of 25°C, 65% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16 h light : 8 h dark on the PP8 variety of sugar beet. Nicholson's model and linear regression were used to determine per capita searching efficiency and interference coefficient, respectively. The highest parasitism percentage was observed on the third instar nymphs of A. fabae in both choice and no‐choice preference tests. There was significant difference between rates of parasitism on different stages of A. fabae (P < 0.01). Using logistic regression, a type II functional response was determined for A. matricariae. The Holling and Rogers models were used for estimating searching efficiency (a) and handling time (T_h). The data was fitted by the Rogers equation better than by the Holling disc equation based on the R² values. The estimated values of searching efficiency and handling time were 0.040 ± 0.013/h and 3.439 ± 0.383 h, respectively. The per capita searching efficiency decreased significantly from 0.272 to 0.139 as parasitoid densities increased from one to five. Therefore, different host‐parasitoid ratios could affect the efficacy of A. matricariae.     

Parasitism by Pteromalus cerealellae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on the Cowpea weevil, Callosbruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): Host density, temperature effects, and host finding ability

Studies on interactions between a larval parasitoid, Pteromalus cerealellae (Boucek) and one of its hosts, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) were carried out in the laboratory. The number of host larvae parasitized by P. cerealellae increased with host larvae at low densities and tended to a plateau at a density of 25 larvae per female parasitoid. Each parasitoid was able to parasitize more hosts and produced more offspring at 20 and 25 °C than at 30 °C. The number of non-infested seeds mixed with seeds infested with the last instar of C. maculatus did not preclude P. cerealellae from identifying infested seeds and attacking larvae inside them. When infested seeds were tightly packed, several host larvae escaped parasitism. P. cerealellae may be a useful biological control agent in newly harvested cowpea with low C. maculatus infestation, and lowering the temperature of the storage system may enhance the effectiveness of this parasitoid.     

Factors affecting the rate of attack by Cotesia rubecula (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract. 1. The relationship between responses of the insect parasitoid Cotesia rubecula (Marshall) to kairomones produced by the feeding activities of its host, Pieris rapae (L.), and patterns of parasitism were investigated under field conditions.
2. Parasitoid adults aggregated in patches with the highest densities of host larvae but there was no commensurate increase in the rate of attack in these patches.
3. The rate of attack was not limited by the availability of eggs.
4. The rate of parasitoid attack was highest where feeding damage by the host was highest, irrespective of current host density.
5. The rate of parasitoid attack was further influenced by host age distribution. Late instar larvae were less susceptible to parasitism than were early instar larvae. The rate of attack on early instar larvae occupying the same plants as late instar larvae was reduced. This reduction in rate of attack was due to limitations on parasitoid search time imposed by the increased feeding damage associated with large host larvae and by the increased time the parasitoid required to recover from an attack on these large host larvae.     

Spatial density‐dependent parasitism and specificity in the robber fly Mallophora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae)

The density‐dependence in parasitism by the robber fly Mallophora ruficauda (Diptera: Asilidae) on scarab beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) populations was studied in the present research. Mallophora ruficauda is a pestiferous species common in the open grasslands of the Pampas region of South America. Adults are predators of insects and larvae are solitary parasitoids of third instar larvae of several species of scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). In contrast with most studied host‐parasitoid interactions, host searching by M. ruficauda is carried out by both larvae and adults. Typically, robber fly females lay eggs on tall grasses from where larvae drop to the ground, and attack hosts which are buried in the soil. We carried out our study at two spatial scales close to 14 apiaries located in the provinces of Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos (Argentina). We found that parasitism is density‐independent at the larger spatial scale and inversely density‐dependent at the smaller one. We also found that M. ruficauda selects Cyclocephala signaticollis among several scarab beetle species. Specificity is observed both at large and small spatial scales. We discuss the implications of both host specificity and host searching behaviour on the observed parasitism patterns.