The generalist parasitoid <i>Nasonia vitripennis</i> shows more behavioural plasticity in host preference than its three specialist sister species

Host preference is an important behaviour in parasitoid females as they must choose suitable hosts for their offspring. Preference includes location, recognition and acceptance of hosts. Both genetic environmental factors can affect all those stages. Here, we focus on two (rearing history experience) affecting host the wasp genus Nasonia (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae), which harbours both a generalist (N. vitripennis) several closely related specialists giraulti, N. longicornis oneida). We tested whether prefer that developed by rearing them different species (Lucilia sericata Calliphora vomitoria) over 10 generations before testing preference. then experience changes allowing to feed oviposit either Only vitripennis showed behavioural plasticity effect was overruled with species. In contrast, three specialist were not affected long-term only shifted based experience. four known species, individual adult modulated recognition,