Parasitization by Edovum puttleri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in relation to host density in the field

Abstract

Abstract. The relationship between parasitization by Edovum puttleri Grissell and density of eggs of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was studied on two spatial scales (eggs mass and 6 m2 cage). For both scales, rates of parasitism were generally inversely related to host density for periods ranging from 2 to 8 days after parasitoid release. Thereafter, parasitism became independent of host density. The initial inverse‐density relationship and subsequent shift to density independence may result from several factors: (1) ambient temperatures, (2) the parasitoid's limited egg production, (3) differential times of exposure of egg masses to parasitoids, and/or (4) the parasitoid's patterns of host feeding and oviposition. Although overall levels of parasitism were relatively low, total mortality of L.decemlineata eggs (including nonviable and cannibalized eggs, and those killed by parasitoid feeding) in parasitized egg masses was consistently high (˜70–90%).