Intra- and interspecifichost discrimination in Asobara (Hymenoptera), larval endo-parasitoids of Drosophilidae: comparison between closely related and less related species

L.E.M. Vet, M. Meyer, K. Bakker, J.J.M. van Alphen

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Abstract

Host discrimination studies were conducted with different species of Asobara, which are larval endo-parasitoids of Drosophilidae. Results indicated variable host discrimination which depended on the relatedness of the species. The closely related sibling species Asobara tabida (Nees) and A. rufescens (Foerster) were not only capable of intraspecific discrimination, but also avoided multiparasitism by discriminating between unparasitized host larvae and larvae previously parasitized by females of the other species. This ability to discriminate interspecifically does not seem functional as each species occupies its own microhabitat. As it was shown to be absent in less closely related Asobara species we concluded that interspecific discrimination by A. tabida and A. rufescens was due to their close relationship
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)871-874
JournalAnimal Behaviour
Volume32
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1984
Externally publishedYes

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