Optimal Selection and Exploitation of Hosts in the Parasitic Wasp Colpoclypeus Florus (Hym., Eulophidae)

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Abstract
This study deals with the question how an insect parasitoid can maximize its fitness through adaptation of its reproductive behaviour. It concentrates on the behaviour of a parasitoid after it has encountered a host. Optimal exploitation of individual hosts is emphasized rather than a maximization of the number of parasitized hosts. In Chapter I the topic of optimization of behaviour is introduced in relation to the study of insect parasitoids. The choice of the experimental animals is explained and behavioural alternatives of the parasitoid are discussed. In this study the number of granddaughters is taken as a measure of fitness. The chalcidoid wasp Colpoclypeus florus (Hym., Eulophidae) is a gregarious ectoparasitoid of larvae of at least 32 species of leafrollers (Lep., Tortricidae; Table I). Host plants are predominantly trees and shrubs. The parasitoid has a west palearc- tic distribution (fig. 1) and is rare in natural or semi-natural habitats. However, C. florus can be found in abundance in intensively cultivated habitats. In the Netherlands they are found especially in apple orchards, during outbreaks of the sum- mer fruit tortrix moth, Adoxofihyes orana. Efforts to control A. orana with mass releases of the parasitoid had not been successful. However, the parasitoid is considered as promising by those working on integrated control and more biological information was required.

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