Abstract
Comparisons of various strains of hymenopterous parasites,Muscidifurax raptor Girault & Sanders,M. uniraptor Kogan & Legner,M. zaraptor K. & L.,Spalangia cameroni Perkins,S. endius Walker,S. longepetiolata Boucek,S. nigra Latreille andSphegigaster sp. attackingMusca domestica L., showed that theSpalangia species consistently penetrated to the greatest depth, 4 cm, in an experimental wheat flakes habitat. Moisture influenced penetration behaviour of some species. Host destruction wrought by host-feeding and parasitization was often proportionally greater than progeny production at the lower depth, indicating that parasites searched there without finding conditions suitable for oviposition. Progeny production by all species was greater at the higher of 2 temperatures, 29 vs 21°C., but RH influenced parasitization and ♀♀ production, apparently according to strain preferences. Superiorily competitiveMuscidifurax species may be favored by comparatively cooler temperatures; this characteristic would account for their predominace in nature during cooler seasons. However, the problem of characterizing different species as to preference for certain strata of the host habitat and temperature is confounded with strain type, RH, habitat moisture and behavioral and developmental elements.
Résumé
La comparaison des divers genres d'espèces parasitoïdes,Muscidifuraz raptor Girault & Sanders,M. uniraptor Kogan & Legner,M. zaraptor K. & L.,Spalangia cameroni Perkins,S. endius Walker,S. longepetiolata Boucek,S. nigra Latreille etSphegigaster sp. attaquantMusca domestica L., a montré que l'espèceSpalangia a pénétré jusqu'à la plus grande profondeur, (4 cm) dans un habitat experimental de froment en flocons. La pénétration de quelques espèces a été influencée par l'humidité. Dans les régions plus profondes, la destruction de l'hôte et le parasitisme ont été souvent proportionnellement plus importants que la production de descendants, montrant que les parasitoïdes ont cherché sans les trouver des conditions favorables à la ponte. La production de descendants par toutes les espéces a été plus grande à la plus élevée des 2 températures: 29o et 21°C, mais l'humidité relative a influencé l'infestation par les parasites et la production des femelles, apparemment selon la préférence des lignées. Les espèces deMuscididurax, qui sont supérieures en concurrence, préférent peut-être les températures comparativement plus fraîches, ce qui expliquerait leur prédominance dans la nature pendant les saisons plus fraîches. Cependant, le probléme de la caractérisation des différentes espèces selon leur préférence pour certaines couches de l'habitat de l'hôte et pour la température est compliqué par le type de lignée, l'humidité relative de l'habitat et les caractères du comportement et du développement.
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Legner, E.F. Temperature, humidity and depth of habitat influencing host destruction and fecundity of muscoid fly parasites. Entomophaga 22, 199–206 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02377844
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02377844