Population Dynamics of Telenomus fariai (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a Parasite of Chagas' Disease Vectors. VI Ability to discriminate between parasitized and non-parasitized hosts

JORGE RABINOVICH

ACTA CIENTIFICA VENEZOLANA

Asociación Venezolana para el Avance de la Ciencia

Lugar: Caracas; Año: 1970 p. 154 - 156

0001-5504

Fourteen experiments, of 10 replicates each, were set up to evaluate Telenomus fariai females' ability to discriminate between parasitized and non-parasitized hosts. Each experiment consisted in offering to one female parasite, for 24 hours, only one non-parasitized egg mingled with a variable number of parasitized eggs. In all experiments, in 90-100 % of the replicates the only non-parasitized egg was found and parasitation took place. This high level of success proves to be exceedingly deviated from the level of success predicted by any of two models proposed assuming that the success is a completely random event. Thus, it is concluded that T. fariai females show a high power of discrimination between parasitized and non-parasitized host eggs. The possible adaptive value of this mechanism is discussed.