Effect of parasitization by a gregarious and a solitary parasitoid on food consumption and utilization byPorthesia scintillans Walker (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) andSpodoptera exigua Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Food consumption and utilization by the hosts (Porthesia scintillans, Spodoptera exigua) decreased when they were parasitized by a gregarious and a solitary parasitoid (Apanteles flavipes, A. prodeniae). Larval duration of the parasitizedP. scintillans extended to 15.8 days compared with 12.6 days for the unparasitized host. Relative to unparasitized hosts, the host parasitized by the gregarious parasitoid consumed 28% less food during the entire larval period and that parasitized by the solitary parasitoid consumed 94.4% less food.