Abstract
Pediobius foveolatus (Crawford) that were superparasites of their host, the Mexican bean
beetle, Epilachna varivestis. Mulsant, discriminated parasitized from
unparasitized hosts and reduced their clutch sizes when they parasitized
single-parasitized hosts. Prior host experience also affected their clutch size
reduction because experienced superparasites (those having oviposited
one clutch of eggs into an unparasitized host) reduced their clutch
sizes more than inexperienced ones. Host experience, however, did not
significantly affect oviposition durations or clutch sizes of wasps
when they subsequently acted as primary parasites. Adult females P.
foveolatus emerged with a mean of 50.87 ready-to-lay eggs. Their emergent
clutch size is correlated with their adult size. Hence P. foveolatus
reduced their clutch sizes in response to their hosts' parasitized
condition, not in response to egg limitation. Superparasites can
discriminate parasitized hosts as early as 1 h after initial host
parasitization. The duration of the primary parsitization affected the
degree of superparasitization curtailment. No statistical difference
in the oviposition durations of superparasites was detected when
they oviposited into conspecifically versus self-parasitized hosts.
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