BROOD GUARDING BEHAVIOR AND LIFE-HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS OF GONIOZUS-INDICUS ASHMEAD (HYMENOPTERA, BETHYLIDAE), A LARVAL ECTOPARASITOID OF LEPIDOPTERAN STEMBORERS

Brood guarding behavior and life history characteristics of Goniozus i ndicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) were examined in the laborato ry. Longevity was increased when females were provided host frass, and females reared in association with hosts lived longer than females ma intained separately from hosts. Females that were allowed free access to hosts oviposited at intervals of one to eight days and never parasi tized more than one host per day. Females laid 5-25 eggs per host, and life time fecundity was 15-52 eggs at 25 degrees C, 7-60 eggs at 28 d egrees C, and 5-25 eggs at 31 degrees C. Females exhibited egg guardin g behavior, remaining with the hosts after parasitization. Although th e guarding period varied, the majority of females left the host before or during eclosion of their eggs. Considered together with the diffic ulty of finding and successfully parasitizing suitable hosts, brood gu arding behavior appears to increase reproductive success of G. indicus .