Wi. Choi et al., Host-size-dependent feeding behaviour and progeny sex ratio of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Hym., Pteromalidae), J APPL ENT, 125(1-2), 2001, pp. 71-77
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Entomology/Pest Control
Journal title
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY-ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ANGEWANDTE ENTOMOLOGIE
Host-size related feeding and oviposition behaviour, and allocation of prog
eny sex by Anisopteromalus calandrae calandrae (Howard) were tested on Sito
philus oryzae L. The parasitoid showed a host-size-dependent partition of f
eeding and oviposition behaviour, preferring small hosts for feeding, but l
arge hosts for oviposition. Neither the mutual interference nor the host de
nsity showed any effect on the behaviour of the parasitoid. Allocation of p
rogeny sex by the female parasitoid appeared to be based more likely on abs
olute than on relative host size encountered. A model for the progeny sex r
atio was constructed based on: (1) ovipositional preference of the parasito
id on large hosts; (2) feeding preferentially on small hosts; and (3) host-
size-related regulation of progeny sex ratio. The progeny sex ratio of the
parasitoid predicted by the model was in close agreement with the observed
value.