Abstract
Effect of superparasitization on the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), and its parasite Trichopoda pennipes pilipes (F.) is discussed. The parasite emerged from 38 to 78% of the superparasitized hosts. This percentage was correlated with the number of parasite larval penetrations into each host. At low larval density (2-5 parasite larvae per host), the percentage of hosts from which the parasites emerged was greater (64-78%) than at high parasite larval density (7-14 parasite larvae per host). In the latter case the percentage of hosts which produced adult parasites was reduced to 38%. The fecundity of the superparasitized hosts was reduced to about 59% of that of unparasitized hosts, but the percentage of egg fertility remained unaffected.
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