Ovipositional Response of Meteorus leviventris (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Various Densities of Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) 1

Abstract

The ovipositional response of the parasitoid Meteorus leviventris (Wesmael) was examined over five host densities. Fecundity was the same for all host densities tested. Daily oviposition peaked ca. 48 h after emergence, then decreased as parasitoids aged. Both the total number of eggs deposited and the number of hosts parasitized per 12 h were significantly higher during the dark phase of the LD 12:12 cycle. The maximum number of hosts parasitized during a l2-h period for any parasitoid was 8, with an average of 3.5 hosts for parasitoids exposed to 12 hosts per 12 h. With increasing host density, more total hosts were parasitized, resulting in lower numbers of eggs per host and fewer incidences of superparasitism.