Abstract
Egg masses of the gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), from various parts of Connecticut were examined during fall and winter of 1970–71 for parasitism by Ooencyrtus kuwanai (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Significant negative correlation occurred between percent parasitization of egg masses and egg mass size (number eggs per mass) for the data when all locations were pooled, but not for data at some locations when these were considered separately. Correlation between percent parasitization and egg mass dimensions (surface:volume ratio) was also site-dependent. Thus, although inability to reach all eggs in a mass (as measured by lower percent parasitization as egg mass size increases) may impose an upper limit to the percent parasitization attainable by O. kuwanai , this limit is not consistently reached in nature. Analysis of data on parasitization by O. kuwanai of egg masses distributed in different parts of trees showed that height, aspect, and site had no significant influence on variations in parasitization by O. kuwanai . However, intertree variation was greater than intratree variation, suggesting that the parasitoid has limited tree to tree dispersal or perhaps responds to microhabitat conditions associated with individual trees.
Published Version
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