Foraging Behaviour of Rhagoletis pomonella, a Parasite of Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis), in Nature

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Abstract
The influence of C. viridis fruit quality and density on the foraging behavior of 1 of its parasites, the tephritid fly R. pomonella, was examined in nature. Individual female flies were released in trees harboring: no host fruit; non-host fruit; egg-infested, oviposition-deterring pheromone-marked host fruit; or varying densities of uninfested, unmarked host fruit. Flies emigrated from trees within a short time if they did not discover fruit. Flies never or rarely oviposited in non-host and marked fruit, respectively, and in both cases emigrated from trees harboring those fruit soon after examining the fruit. Flies exhibited success-motivated search following discovery of and oviposition in uninfested, unmarked fruit. Flies visited more fruit, oviposited more often and remained longer in trees harboring high vs. low densities of fruit clusters. Flies emigrated sooner after the last egg laid on trees harboring high vs. low densities of fruit clusters. R. pomonella foraging behavior is discussed in relation to current foraging theory.

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