Larval Competition Between Telenomus Costalimai (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Ooencyrtus Trinidadensis Venatorius (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) after Simultaneous Oviposition in Rhodnius Prolixus Eggs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

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Abstract
Intra- and interspecific larval competition in Telenomus costalimai and Ooencyrtus trinidadensis venatorius, egg parasitoids of Rhodnius prolixus, were investigated in the laboratory after nearly simultaneous oviposition in the same host egg. The encyrtid species is generally more successful than the scelionid, and this is apparently related to the gregarious character of the former. The analysis of survivorship curves shows that T. costalimai suffers early mortality, mainly as the result of physical attack by competing larvae, when its own density increases; but O. t. venatorius shows very little increase in mortality with increasing larval density when by itself, and even shows a reduction in mortality when its competitor is present. An increase of developmental time with increasing larval density was also found in T. costalimai.

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