LEARNING BEHAVIOUR OF OPIUS CONCOLOR SZLEPLIGETI (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE) IN HOST DISCRIMINATION

Abstract

Abstract Laboratory experiment on learning behaviour of Opius concolor in host discrimination was conducted. The superparasitism by both the “inexperienced” and “experienced” wasps at the highest ratio of parasitoid: host (1: 0. 9) was significantly higher than those at two low ratios (1: 5 and 1: 10). The distributions of the eggs of O. concolor females in hosts examined by dissection showed that the eggs laid by both “inexperienced” and “experienced females” at 1: 0. 9 ratio did not agree with the Poisson distribution. However, at 1: 5 ratfio the eggs laid by “experienced” ones did not agree with Poisson distribution, whereas by inexperienced ones agreed with Poisson distribution. On the contrary. the eggs laid both by “inexperienced” and “experienced” wasps at 1: 10 ratio agreed with the Poisson distribution. The results of experiment on the self‐superparasitism indicated that both “experienced” and “inexperienced” single females, in 6 h at ratio 1: 5, could carry out on superparasitization.