FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF TWO APHID PARASITOIDS; Aphidius matricariae HALIDAY AND Aphidius colemani VIERECK (HYMENOPTERA: APHIDIIDAE)

The effect of learning and experience status on the foraging behavior of aphid parasitoids Aphidius matricariae (Haliday) and A. colemani (Viereck) was studied. Direct observation showed that the experienced females remained for longer times on the leaves of potted cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus) than did their naïve counterparts. Also experienced female parasitoids attacked more aphids within a patch than did naïve females and parasitized more hosts. Moreover, experienced females super-parasitized more aphids than did naïve ones for both parasitoid species. Almost no difference was found between the foraging behavior of A. matricariae and A. colemani.