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Parasitoid diets: Does superparasitism pay?
D C Speirs1, T N Herratt, S F Hubbard
1Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 15, 2011
Summary
Insect parasitoids may actively choose superparasitism, laying eggs in already parasitized hosts. This behavior, previously thought to be a mistake, could be an optimal foraging strategy for reproductive success.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Insect Behavior
Background:
- Insect parasitoids typically discriminate between healthy and parasitized hosts.
- Superparasitism, or hosts parasitized more than once, is frequently observed.
- Superparasitism was traditionally attributed to errors in host discrimination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the concept of superparasitism as an active foraging strategy.
- To investigate the evolutionary implications of superparasitism in insect parasitoids.
- To test evolutionary models of behavior using parasitoid foraging success.
Main Methods:
- Review of theoretical studies on optimal superparasitism.
- Analysis of the link between parasitoid foraging and reproductive output.
- Behavioral observation of insect parasitoids in relation to host selection.
Main Results:
- Theoretical models suggest superparasitism can be an optimal strategy under certain conditions.
- Superparasitism may be an active foraging decision rather than a mistake.
- Parasitoid foraging success directly influences reproductive success.
Conclusions:
- Superparasitism can be an adaptive foraging strategy for insect parasitoids.
- This behavior offers a valuable system for testing evolutionary theories of behavior.
- Understanding superparasitism provides insights into the evolution of foraging strategies.
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