Patterns of parasitoid-host associations in differentially parasitized macrolepidopteran assemblages on Black Willow Salix nigra (Marsh) and Box Elder Acer negundo L.

Studies on the interactions between species co-occurring on a plant and their parasitoids have primarily focused on assemblages or communities of endophytic herbivores. Less is known about assemblages of exophytic herbivores such as lepiclopteran species. This study focuses on the interactions among species in macrolepidopteran assemblages on box elder and black willow trees, and their parasitoids. Specifically, we determined how percent parasitism varied within and across species and families of both macrolepidopteran herbivores and their parasitoids. Parasitism by species in all parasitoid families varied across families of macrolepidoptera. However, in general mean yearly percent parasitism was highest among larvae in the box elder assemblage. Braconids were the most abundantly represented parasitoid taxon, however, the contribution that parasitoid families made to total parasitism of all larvae also varied depending on the host tree species. There was no significant correlation between the number of species in a macrolepidopteran family collected on either tree species and levels of parasitism. Mean parasitoid species load for all species was 4.3, a value lower than reported in other studies. There was no significant difference in mean parasitoid species load across families. Similarly, there was no significant difference in average parasitoid loads of macrolepidoptera on box elder and black willow.