title: The development of the endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens in superparasitised Ephestia kuehniella.
abstract: Using a molecular marker that allows the differentiation of two strains of the solitary endoparasitoid wasp Venturia canescens, the study investigated the influence of host mass and the time interval between ovipositions on the survival and development of larvae from both the first and second laid eggs in superparasitised Ephestia kuehniella. As the time interval between ovipositions increased both overall and superparasitism success decreased, however, time between, and order of, ovipositions had little effect on other developmental parameters. Adult size increased with host mass under both parasitism and superparasitism, while host mortality decreased with host mass under superparasitism. In addition, wasps emerging from superparasitised hosts were larger than wasps from parasitised hosts. The results confirm that for V. canescens on the host E. kuehniella both self- and conspecific-superparasitism will be an adaptive strategy when hosts are the limiting factor.
authors.affiliation: Insect Molecular Biology Laboratory, Plant and Pest Science Department, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia. harry.roberts@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Harry L S
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Trüe
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D016014:Linear Models; D009036:Moths / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014863:Wasps / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology