Hyperparasitoid aggregation in response to variation in Aphidius ervi host density at three spatial scales

Abstract

Abstract. This article investigates the pattern of hyperparasitism of the host Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera, Aphidiidae), a primary parasitoid of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae) at three spatial scales. In the laboratory, the hyperparasitoid Asaphes lucens (Provancher) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was introduced into cages containing sixteen alfalfa plants with varying numbers of A. ervi mummies (the stage susceptible to hyperparasitism). The pattern of hyperparasitism at the end of the 48‐h trials showed no density‐dependent hyperparasitoid aggregation, although there was strong density‐independent hyperparasitoid aggregation. In the field, the density of A. ervi mummies was manipulated in twelve 2 × 2‐m plots containing 1309–1654 alfalfa stems. Variation in hyperparasitism among plots showed no density‐dependent aggregation, although there was strong density‐independent aggregation. Finally, at the largest scale of the study, the distribution of hyperparasitism was sampled among twelve alfalfa fields within a 5 × 3‐km area. At this scale there was both density‐dependent and density‐independent hyperparasitoid aggregation. The natural variation in A. ervi mummy density is greatest at the larger scales of study. Therefore, density‐dependent hyperparasitism occurs only when there is high natural variation in mummy density.