1996/01/01 by Trevor Williams, Andrew Polaszek · 44 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Aphelinidae #Biology #Ecology #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Evolutionary biology #Facultative #Host (biology) #Hymenoptera #Insect-Plant Interactions and Control #Parasitism #Parasitoid #Plant and animal studies #Sex ratio #Taxonomy (biology) #Zoology
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1996.tb01694.x
published in Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 57(1), 35-45 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 1996/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/16
Host relations among the Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are highly intriguing from an evolutionary view. Females are usually primary endoparasitoids of whiteflies or scale insects, whereas the development of the male is different and has been used for classification. In heteronomous hyperparasitoids (adelphoparasitoids or autoparasitoids) the male develops as a hyperparasitoid of conspecific females or other endoparasitoid species. We review the consequences of this mode of development which is unique because decisions concerning host selection are inextricably linked with progeny sex ratio. Autoparasitoid field sex ratios can fluctuate dramatically concurrent with changes in the relative availability of male and female hosts. A recent adaptive explanation for these sex ratios involves understanding the reproductive constraints acting on heteronomous parasitoids. Host relations in these parasitoids can show a degree of plasticity. We argue that in many instances autoparasitism may be facultative in nature and should not be used for classification. Heterotrophic parasitism, wherein the male develops as a primary parasitoid of lepidopterous eggs, has been poorly understood in the past due to uncertainties in reports of the biology and taxonomy of heterotrophic parasitoids. The host relations of this group are clarified.