Functional response and mutual interference are the most important behavioural characteristics that reveal different aspects of host–parasitoid interactions. In this study, functional response and mutual interference of the parasitoid wasp, Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) attacking the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus) were investigated. Logistic regression was used to distinguish t...

biological characteristics and population growth parameters of diaeretiella rapae (hym.: braconidae) on russian wheat aphid, diuraphis noxia (hem.: aphididae) were investigated at five constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25 and 27.5 ?c), 60±5% rh and a photoperiodicity of 16:8 h (light:dark). developmental period of immature stages of d. rapae was the lowest at 25 ?c (11.23±0.144 days) and highe...

The exceptional diversity of insects is often attributed to the effects of specialized relationships between insects and their hosts. Parasite-host interactions are influenced by current natural selection and dispersal, in addition to historical effects that may include past selection, vicariance, and random genetic drift. Both current and historical events can lead to reduced fitness on some h...

Aphid parasitoids are common in Brazilian wheat fields, and parasitize aphids at the wheat tillering stage. However, there is little information available about when this natural enemy occurs in wheat crops. This study investigated the initial occurrence of aphid parasitoids in four commercial wheat crops in northern Paraná during the 2009 crop season. We installed two Malaise traps at each whe...