Optimal Foraging by Parasitoid Wasps

Abstract

Experiments were described in which insect parasites were observed continuously searching in a patchy host habitat. The predictions of the Cook and Hubbard (1977) model for the outcome of search by insect parasites and predators were examined. The observed final encounter rates between parasites and healthy hosts, the final density of healthy hosts in each patch at the end of the interaction, the giving up times for each patch, the effect of exploitation on the time budget, and the effect of the range of patch types available to the parasites all show an encouraging measure of agreement with the predictions of the model. The present view of parasite mutual interference, deviations from the expected relationships and the important role of sampling strategies were discussed.