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Title: EFFECTS OF MULTIPARASITISM ON THE PARASITIZATION BEHAVIOR OF INSECT PARASITOIDS

Author
item Harris, Ernest
item BAUTISTA, RENATO - USDA-ARS (POSTDOC)

Submitted to: Predators and Parasitoids of Advances in Biopesticide Research
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2003
Publication Date: 4/1/2003
Citation: HARRIS, E.J., BAUTISTA, R.C. EFFECTS OF MULTIPARASITISM ON THE PARASITIZATION BEHAVIOR OF INSECT PARASITOIDS. PREDATORS AND PARASITOIDS OF ADVANCES IN BIOPESTICIDE RESEARCH. 2003.

Interpretive Summary: This book chapter highlights the findings and controversies of parasitism behavior that have contributed to scientists understanding of multiparasitism. Multiparasitism has received extensive research over several decades catalyzed by the desire to reduce risks and detrimental consequences caused by the use of chemical pesticides. Complete or partial success from the use of biological control to suppress insect pests rests on the premise that pest insect densities are amenable to control by introduction and establishment of imported parasitoids to achieve high parasitoid-to-host ratios. This chapter explains the nature of the competition that occurs between and among different parasitoids which exploit the same host resources. The chapter presents the case for biological control to balance the editors presentation of biopesticide research progress and future trends focusing on phytochemical and microbial biopesticides.

Technical Abstract: Editors Opender Koul and G.S. Dhaliwal conceived and organized Advances in Biopesticide Research. This four volume work consist of Volume 1, Phytochemical Biopesticides, Volume 2, Microbial Biopesticides, Volume 3, Predators and Parasitoids and a title of related interest Insecticides of Natural Origin. Their thoughtful selection of chapter authors enabled them to highlight biopesticide research progress, emerging trends and future strategies that focus on utilizing phytochemicals, microbial products and natural enemies of pests such as predators and parasitoids as a means of managing insect pests in a way which is environmentally benign. We (E. J. Harris and R.C. Bautista) were asked to make the case for the Effect of Multiparasitism on the Parasitization Behavior of Insect Parasitoids and discuss how this technology may be used to suppress insect pest organisms. We highlighted the findings and controversies that have contributed to current understanding of multiparasitism including the nature of parasitoid competition, host finding of target insects, host recognition, interspecific discrimination of parasitized hosts, mechanisms of competition inside host body, and physical struggle within the host. Host discrimination behavior by parasitoids should not be misconstrued as unimportant; in fact, multiple attacks of the same host would result in complete loss of efficiency of host parasitism. Our main concern is to determine whether a specific parasitoid is the best for introduction or whether a cohort of different parasitoids should be released for classical biological control.