BEHAVIORAL TIME BUDGET AND PERIODICITY EXHIBITED BY MICROPLITIS-CROCEIPES IN-FIELD CAGES WITH HELIOTHIS-VIRESCENS ON SPRING HOST PLANTS

Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) females were observed between 06 :00 a nd 20 :00 hours in cages containing spring host plants infested with H eliothis virescens (F.), tobacco budworm, larvae. Cages contained Gera nium dissectum L. and Trifolium incarnation L. in plantings of equal a rea, each infested with 50 H. virescens larvae. A time budget for the various behaviors exhibited by the wasps was obtained. In order of dec reasing time spent, M. croceipes females were observed to exhibit stan ding still, searching on plant surface, preening, oriented flight, gen eral flight, and walking. The proportion of time spent preening increa sed over the day. Oriented flight, general flight, searching, and walk ing peaked in the morning between 09:00 and 12:00 hours. Oriented flig ht, general flight, and walking showed minor increases in the afternoo n. Microplitis croceipes females spent significantly more time preenin g, orienting to, and walking and searching on clover than on geranium. However, there was no difference in time spent standing still on gera nium or clover. Significance of these findings for development of effe ctive augmentative release strategies is discussed.