PARASITISM OF LEPTINOTARSA DECEMLINEATA (SAY) EGGS BY EDOVUM PUTTLERI GRISSELL (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE): EFFECTS OF HOST AGE, PARASITOID AGE, AND TEMPERATURE

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Abstract
Parasitism of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), by Edovum puttleri Grissell, an exotic egg parasitoid, was studied in relation to the age of host eggs, the age of adult, female parasitoids, and temperature. Parasitism was greater in eggs ≤2 days old than in eggs older than 2 days. Eggs older than 2 days were killed primarily by probing and consequent desiccation. The percentage of eggs killed by probing was positively correlated with host age and negatively correlated with percentage parasitism. Total mortality of eggs from parasitism and probing did not differ among age classes. Following a 3-day preoviposition period, parasitism and probing increased with an increase in the age of females, peaked when adults were ca. 13 days old, and subsequently declined. Parasitism and probing were influenced by temperature: at 15 °C, no parasitism or probing was observed; above 15 °C, mortality from parasitism and probing increased with an increase in temperature up to 30 °C; above 30 °C, the number of eggs that were parasitized and probed decreased with an increase in temperature.

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