Effects of the Body Fluids of Various Host Larvae on Fecundity of Females ofScambus buolianae(Htg.) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract

Several investigators have shown that the composition of insect hemolymph varies considerably between various insect species (Crescitelli and Taylor, 1935; Pratt, 1950; Auclair, 1953 and 1959; Wyattet al., 1956; Todd, 1958). It is possible that differences in the biochemistry of insect hemolymph could affect the nutritive value of host fluids. Therefore the feeding of the females of certain hymenopterous parasites on various hosts may affect also their fecundity and thus influence the establishment of imported parasites or the maintenance of indigenous parasites in certain habitats.Scambus buolianae(Htg.), an imported external parasite of the larvae of pine shoot moth,Rhyacionia buoliana(Schiff.), and possibly of other Lepidoptera species, was used to investigate the nutritional effect of various hosts on the fecundity of the females.