Rates of successful parasitism (the proportion of parasitoid eggs laid in eggs that develop into adult parasitoids) by Dinocampus coccinellae was compared between Harmonia axyridis and Coleomegilla maculata. In the field, it appears that the proportion of the population that is parasitized is similar for both species, but the rate of successful parasitism is lower for H. axyridis than for C. maculata. We performed choice experiments in the laboratory and in field cages with corn plants to gain insight into host preference of D. coccinellae, and to investigate whether these parasitoids search certain areas of the plants more than other areas. We conducted additional stinging experiments to determine the rate of successful parasitism in both host species.
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