Eucelatoria bryani (Diptera: Tachinidae): Effect on Fecundity of Feeding on Hosts

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Abstract
Eucelatoria bryani Sabrosky adults fed water and sucrose were subjected to various repeated treatments at 6, 8, 10, and 12 d in the laboratory. There was no difference in fecundity for 10-d-old flies exposed either to live Heliothis zea (Boddie) larvae, hemolymph, or to the control, sucrose and water. Fecundity of 12-d-old flies exposed either to host larvae or host hemolymph was 4.1- to 7.5-fold greater than that of 12-d-old flies exposed only to sucrose and water. From 10 to 12 d, fecundity decreased only for flies fed sucrose and water. Host hemolymph, which was both a nutrient and an arrestant, increased fecundity. Host frass was an arrestant and did not affect fecundity. This probably is the first report to demonstrate conclusively that feeding on hosts affects fecundity of a species of Tachinidae.

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