Influence of Food on Fecundity and Longevity of Adults of Itoplectis conquisitor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract

The females of many species of chalcids, braconids, pteromalids, and ichneumonids feed on the body fluids or hemolymph of their host. The fact that the adult males do not partake of this food indicates that such feeding may be associated with egg production. Carbohydrate foods, in addition to the body fluids of the host, are essential to egg production in certain species. Feeding on the host by females of certain hymenopterous parasites increases their value as control agents. This feeding sometimes may be more important than parasitism as a cause of host mortality. Itoplectis conquisitor (Say), a host feeding parasite, is considered in this paper.