Oviposition experience promotes active reproductive behaviour in a synovigenic parasitoid

Parasitoids are important insects that commonly released into the environment to reduce population sizes of pest species. The lifetime reproductive success parasitoids mainly depends on host availability and mature eggs. Consequently, it is predicted female wasps must balance risk egg or (time) limitation with maximized fecundity. Typically, synovigenic females, which continue eggs throughout their lifetime, have been shown adjust production rate in response environmental variations limitation. In this study, we found a parasitoid, Anastatus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), oviposition experience Ana. females significantly enhanced load increased production. However, contrast other studies, contact did not affect females. This result suggests overall might induce an adjustment accelerate maturation likely more than transitory contract. addition affecting load, influenced behaviour, shifted virgin behavioural preferences from mating laying per clutch. Our study provides optimal strategy for post-oviposition release , parasitoid several lepidopteran forest pests, improve biocontrol effectiveness.