Understanding How Parasitoids Balance Food and Host Needs: Importance to Biological Control

摘要: Abstract Adult parasitoids must not only find hosts for reproductive purposes but also locate food to meet their short-term nutritional needs. A knowledge of how parasitoid females deal with the often competing needs these two vital resources is essential understanding foraging strategies. Studies show that availability and accessibility sources, such as nectar or honeydew in a target area, strongly affect retention host-finding efficacy. For maintain high success it important disruption host process minimal so most time energy can be allocated finding hosts. The use olfactory visual cues from plants, usually enhanced by learning, helps minimize this plays sometimes interacting roles searching Thus, provision sources floral extrafloral plants along associated signals crucial role tritrophic interplay among herbivores, parasitoids. broader level interactions encompasses considerations enhance our ability design effective biological control Herein, we discuss internal state characteristics environment, influence consequently parasitizing efficiency. Suggestions are made maximizing food-finding efficacy improve