Ar. Kraaijeveld et al., ADAPTIVE VARIATION IN HOST-SELECTION BEHAVIOR OF ASOBARA-TABIDA, A PARASITOID OF DROSOPHILA LARVAE, Functional ecology, 9(1), 1995, pp. 113-118
1. The braconid Asobara tabida is a widespread parasitoid of Drosophil
a larvae in fermenting substrates. 2. Across its geographic range, sur
vival probability in D. subobscura larvae is high and fairly constant;
survival probability in D. melanogaster larvae shows much variation.
3. When females of different strains are offered a choice between larv
ae of the two host species, the degree of preference for D. subobscura
larvae is linked to the difference in survival probability in the two
host species. 4. Host selection behaviour of the females matches the
predictions made by an optimal foraging model. 5. Survival probability
in D. melanogaster also depends on temperature and host selection beh
aviour appears to be influenced by temperature as well. 6. It is concl
uded that host selection behaviour of A. tabida is a trait with phenot
ypic plasticity on top of genetic differences.