An experimental test of potential host range in the ant parasitoidApocephalus paraponerae

Abstract

Summary1. The work reported here tested experimentally whether specialisation inApocephalus paraponeraewas due to physiological interactions that limit the parasitoid to the host antParaponera clavata. The suitability of other ant species as hosts was tested, and behavioural traits that may promote a high degree of specificity within this host–parasitoid system are discussed.2. Data for development time, number of puparia, and adult eclosion success forA. paraponeraeovipositing in the regular hostP. clavataare provided. A new method for testing host suitability in parasitoids of ants is described. Eggs ofA. paraponeraewere transferred directly into potential ant hosts. The development time, number of puparia, and adults eclosed for the eggs transferred into other ant host species are compared with comparable data fromP. clavata.3. Seven ant species within the Ponerinae are suitable for the development ofA. paraponerae. The potential host range is greater than the actual host range ofA. paraponerae. Flies are not limited solely by host suitability of related ant species for the development of larvae. Host location and acceptance behaviours are proposed as the primary reasons for host specialisation. The large size of the primary hostP. clavata, and the ability of multiple females to raise many offspring successfully from those hosts may influence the specialisation ofA. paraponeraeonP. clavata.