DOI: 10.5061/dryad.18931zd94
title: Host identity and quality drive parasitoid fitness and have implications for biocontrol

description: Augmentative biocontrol depends on mass-rearing high-quality parasitoids.
 Host size and quality directly affect parasitoid fitness and
 effectiveness, making the identification of suitable hosts essential for
 successful pest control. This study assessed the influence of two pyralid
 hosts on the fitness of Venturia canescens (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera:
 Ichneumonidae), an endoparasitoid of the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae
 Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) utilizing the natural host, E. ceratoniae,
 and an alternative host, the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella
 Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). A type II functional response was
 observed on larval stages of both hosts, indicating similar behavioral
 responses of emergent parasitoids to host density. No significant
 differences were found for attack rates, handling times, or life history
 and morphological traits between hosts.  However, host stage
 significantly affected these parameters, with the L5 stage producing
 parasitoids with maximal life history and morphological traits. Results
 indicate that E. kuehniella is a viable alternative host for the
 mass-rearing of V. canescens, supporting its use in biocontrol programs.
description: # Host identity and quality drive parasitoid fitness and have implications
 for biocontrol Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.18931zd94](10.5061/dryad.18931zd94) ## Description of the
 data and file structure The file is a data set raw file, containing
 functional responses data sets and parasitoid fitness collected data ###
 File: fr_venturia.xlsx This dataset contains results from experiments
 evaluating the functional response, larval development, fecundity, and
 longevity of parasitoid wasps reared on different host larval instars. The
 dataset consists of four worksheets. For each worksheet, the variables
 (columns), their definitions, and units of measurement are fully described
 below. #### **Functional Response** **Content:**\ This worksheet reports
 the number of host larvae parasitized by female parasitoids across a range
 of host-density treatments. Each row corresponds to a single replicate
 within a given density treatment. **Columns and Definitions:** *
 **Host_species**: Host species used in the assay (categorical). *
 **Host_instar**: Larval instar of the host (categorical; e.g., 1st, 2nd,
 3rd instar). * **Host_density**: Number of host larvae offered to the
 parasitoid (integer). * **Replicate**: Replicate number for the given
 treatment (integer). * **Parasitized_larvae**: Number of larvae
 parasitized in that replicate (integer; unit: count). **·       
 Worksheets refer to:** ·        **ECT L3** ·        **ECT L4** ·       
 **ECT L5** ·        **EPH L3** ·        **EPH L4** ·        **EPH L5**
 **Naming convention** ·        “ECT” refers to **Ectomyelois ceratoniae**
 ·        “EPH” refers to **Ephestia kuehniella** ·        “L3”, “L4”, “L5”
 indicate **host larval instars** **Units of Measurement:**\ All counts
 represent numbers of larvae. #### **Larval Development** **Content:** This
 worksheet provides the developmental duration of parasitoids reared on
 different host larval instars. Each row represents an individual
 parasitoid or a replicate group (depending on how your dataset is
 structured). **Columns and Definitions:** * **Host_species**: Host species
 used (categorical). * **Host_instar**: Larval instar on which the
 parasitoid developed (categorical). * **Replicate**: Replicate identifier
 (integer). * **Development_time_days**: Number of days required for the
 parasitoid to reach adulthood from egg to adult emergence (numeric; unit:
 days). **Units of Measurement:**\ Development time is measured in
 **days**. ##### **Fecundity** **Content:**\ This worksheet contains the
 number of eggs laid by adult female parasitoids that had developed on
 different host larval instars. Each row represents one female or one
 replicate. **Columns and Definitions:** * **Host_species**: Host species
 from which the parasitoid emerged (categorical). * **Host_instar**: Larval
 instar on which the parasitoid developed (categorical). * **Replicate**:
 Replicate number (integer). * **Eggs_laid**: Total number of eggs laid by
 the adult female parasitoid (integer; unit: count). **Units of
 Measurement:**\ Egg production is expressed as **number of eggs**. ####
 **Longevity** **Content:**\ This worksheet reports the adult lifespan of
 parasitoids that developed on different host instars. Each row corresponds
 to one parasitoid adult or replicate. **Columns and Definitions:** *
 **Host_species**: Host species on which the parasitoid developed
 (categorical). * **Host_instar**: Larval instar used for parasitoid
 development (categorical). * **Replicate**: Replicate identifier
 (integer). * **Adult_longevity_days**: Lifespan of the adult parasitoid
 (numeric; unit: days). **Units of Measurement:**\ Longevity is reported in
 **days**. ### **Notes on Data Usage** * All data are provided in
 unformatted tabular form suitable for re-analysis. * Variable names and
 units are standardized across all sheets to facilitate merging and
 comparative analysis. * Experimental replicates are included to allow
 statistical evaluation. * Functional response data can be used to fit
 Holling-type models or other predator–prey interaction analyses. *
 Developmental, fecundity, and longevity data can be used to explore
 life-history trade-offs and host age effects