ENTOMOLOGY 135 Biology of Parasitoids

ENTOMOLOGY 135

INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Biology of Parasitoids

1. Introduction.

  1. Natural enemy pool:
  2. Operational definition of parasitoid.
  3. Parasitoids vs. predators:

2. Major taxa of insect parasitoids.

(see handout)

3. Parasitoids: Classification and terminology.

(see handout)

4. Steps in successful parasitization.

  1. Host habitat location:
  2. Host selection: Host finding. Host identification. Host acceptance.
    1. Cues:
      • visual.
      • tactile.
      • acoustical.
      • chemical.
      • semiochemicals (pheromones, kairomones, allomones).
    2. Associative learning (conditioning).
    3. Searching behavior.
    4. Adaptive "decisions" by female.
  3. Host utilization (parasitioid progeny vs. host).
    1. Host suitability.
      • progeny vs. encapsulation.
      • tritrophic effects.
      • supernumary conditions.
    2. Host regulation.
      • changes in size.
      • instars.
      • haemolymph biochemistry.
      • developmental time.
      • food consumption.
      • behavior.

4. Parasitoid guilds, parasitoid communities and biological control.

5. Current issues.

6. Slides.

7. General references.

Entomology 135 Syllabus
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