Superparasitization of the Southern Green Stink Bug by the Tachinid Parasite Trichopoda pennipes pilipes and Its Effect on the Host and Parasite Survival123

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.