Sources of Substances which Elicit a Behavioural Response from the Insect Parasitoid, Campoletis perdistinctus

Abstract

THERE are many reports of the competition among larval parasitoid Hymenoptera which arises when two or more eggs of the same species or of different species are deposited in the same host1. But it may be advantageous to avoid competition, especially for those Hymenoptera which require the entire host for development. Indeed, Salt1 has suggested that there is an advantage in a reduction of the number of progeny lost in competition within their host, for insect parasitoids can then maintain their populations with a relatively low fecundity.