BibSonomy ::  publication ::

Pediobius foveolatus Crawford that were superparasites of their host, the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis. Mulsant, discriminated parasitized from unparasitized hosts and reduced their clutch sizes when they parasitized single-parasitized hosts. Prior host experience also affected their clutch size reduction because experienced superparasites those having oviposited one clutch of eggs into an unparasitized host reduced their clutch sizes more than inexperienced ones. Host experience, however, did not significantly affect oviposition durations or clutch sizes of wasps when they subsequently acted as primary parasites. Adult females P. foveolatus emerged with a mean of 50.87 ready-to-lay eggs. Their emergent clutch size is correlated with their adult size. Hence P. foveolatus reduced their clutch sizes in response to their hosts' parasitized condition, not in response to egg limitation. Superparasites can discriminate parasitized hosts as early as 1 h after initial host parasitization. The duration of the primary parsitization affected the degree of superparasitization curtailment. No statistical difference in the oviposition durations of superparasites was detected when they oviposited into conspecifically versus self-parasitized hosts.