Studies of Parasite Oviposition Behaviour. I. Mastrus carpocapsae Cushman. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract

The oviposition behaviour of numerous parasites toward hosts already parasitized has been the subject of a considerable number of investigations during the past twenty years. Many species of ichneumonids, braconids and chalcids have been shown generally to avoid oviposition in parasitized hosts under laboratory and field conditions but there are conflicting views on the nature of this behiviour and on the cause for such rejection (Salt 1935, 1937, Ullyett 1936). Incomplete data hearing on these problems with the parasite Mastrus carpocapsae are given here. Dificulties in laboratory propagation and particularly irregular and erratic oviposition under the experimental techniques employed have prevented a fuller study; hut it is felt that the data will be of interest to workers in this field of behaviour since in certain respects the findings help in the interpretation of relevant facts demonstrated in previous investigations.