Intraspecific larval competition in Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary endoparasitoid of lepidopteran larvae

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  • Chau Nguyen Ngoc Bao
    Laboratory of Insect Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University
  • Maeto Kaoru
    Laboratory of Insect Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University

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Abstract

Intraspecific competition of larvae in superparasitism was examined in Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary endoparasitoid of lepidopteran larvae. The outcome of competition principally depended on the time interval between two ovipositions by conspecific females. Lethal symmetrical competition by physical attacks with sharp mandibles occurred between first-instar larvae just after or before hatching when two eggs were laid almost simultaneously into the same host within 30 min. During asymmetrical competition between first-instar larvae oviposited at an interval of 24 h, older larvae tended to win against younger ones. However, during competition between first- and second-instar larvae oviposited at an interval of 72 h, the first instar always killed amandibulate second instars by physical attacks using the mandibles. In contrast, obvious developmental delays, but not death, of young first-instar larvae were detected as a result of asymmetrical competition at a 96-h interval. We did not observe egg mortality during either symmetrical or asymmetrical competition.

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