AGE-SPECIFIC PATTERN OF HOST DISCRIMINATION BY THE APHID PARASITOID EPHEDRUS-CALIFORNICUS BAKER (HYMENOPTERA, APHIDIIDAE)

The solitary aphid parasitoid Ephedrus californicus Baker is able to discriminate between unparasitized and parasitized third-instar nymphs of the pea aphid, Acyrtho-siphon pisum (Harris). Superparasitism varied with the number of mature eggs (which is age-dependent) present in the ovaries as well as with the number and the quality of any hosts encountered. Conspecific superparasitism varied with wasp age; older females, with a large egg supply, accepted hosts parasitized by a conspecific female if unparasitized aphids were unavailable. Self superparasitism occurred at all ages; it was the least likely behaviour compared with egg deposition in unparasitized and conspecific-parasitized hosts. Prior experience (learning) was not necessary for host discrimination, but it did influence the search rate, which was higher in inexperienced than experienced females. In choice experiments, wasps preferred conspecific-over self-parasitized aphids and thus were able to distinguish between them. It is suggested that oviposition markers vary among conspecific females. The data are discussed with reference to theories about oviposition decisions and progeny allocation in solitary hymenopteran parasitoids. © 1990, Entomological Society of Canada. All rights reserved.