Abstract
1. In solitary parasitoids, only one individual can complete development
in a given host. Therefore, solitary parasitoids tend to prefer unparasitised hosts for
oviposition, yet under high parasitoid densities, superparasitism is frequent and results
in fierce competition for the host’s limited resources. This may lead to selection for
the best intra-host competitors.
2. Increased intra-host competitive ability may evolve under a high risk of
superparasitism if this trait exhibits genetic variation, and if competitive differences
among parasitoid genotypes are consistent across environments, e.g. different host
genotypes.
3. These assumptions were addressed in the aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum
(Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) and its main host, the black bean aphid, Aphis
fabae (Scopoli) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Three parthenogenetic lines of L. fabarum
were allowed to parasitise three aphid clones singly and in all pairwise combinations
(superparasitism). The winning parasitoid in superparasitised aphids was determined
by microsatellite analysis.
4. The proportions of singly parasitised aphids that were mummified were similar
for the three parasitoid lines and did not differ significantly among host clones.
5. Under superparasitism, significant biases in favour of one parasitoid line were
observed for some combinations, indicating that there is genetic variation for intra-host
competitive ability. However, the outcome of superparasitism was inconsistent across
aphid clones and thus influenced significantly by the host clone in which parasitoids
competed.
6. Overall, this study shows that the fitness of aphid parasitoids under superparasitism
is determined by complex interactions with competitors as well as hosts,
possibly hampering the evolution of improved intra-host competitive ability.
Vorburger, C