Parasitoid assemblage size and host ranges in a parasitoid (Hymenoptera)–agromyzid (Diptera) system from central Argentina

Abstract

AbstractA parasitoid community on agromyzid leafminers from Cordoba, Argentina was analysed in terms of parasitoid assemblage size and host ranges of parasitoid species. Samples were taken during 1991–1995 at natural, urban and agricultural habitats. The system consisted of 69 parasitoid species and 51 leafminer species on 109 plant species. On average, 12 species parasitized each host, when only numerically well represented leafminer species were considered for analysis. Each parasitoid species exploited on average seven species and three genera of agromyzid leafminers. Both parasitoid assemblage size and parasitoid host range were notably high when compared with similar systems from other regions.