title: Superparasitism: a non-adaptive strategy?
abstract: Although once thought to be detrimental, superparasitism (where a host is parasitized more than once) by solitary parasitoids is now accepted to be an adaptive strategy. However, a recent study reveals that this might not always be the case. Varaldi et al. show that the superparasitism behaviour of the wasp Leptopilina boulardi is caused by a vertically and horizontally transmitted infectious agent. A reinterpretation of the adaptive significance of superparasitism in this species might therefore be required.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, EH9 3JT. Tracy.Reynolds@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tracy Reynolds
authors.forename: Ian C W
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Hardy