Host Utilization by Bracon hebetor 1

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Abstract
When Ephestia cautella (Walker) larvae that have been paralyzed by Bracon hebetor Say are aged, the number of hosts remaining moist and thus suitable to the parasites for adult feeding, oviposition and offspring development declines by 15%/wk. Hemolymph ingestion from aged paralyzed hosts equals that from freshly paralyzed hosts. Parasites given a choice between aged and freshly paralyzed hosts consistently lay 68.7% of their eggs on the fresh. The number of parasites developing on aged paralyzed hosts is 0–25% lower than the number developing on freshly paralyzed hosts. The prolonged suitability of the parasite-paralyzed host means that B. hebetor has considerable time to relocate the hosts that crawl away after envenomization, but before paralysis is complete. Thus, the rates of accumulation and utilization of these hosts are a significant part of the natural dynamics of parasite populations and may be manipulated for pest management.