The host preference of Aphidius colemani Viereck for 2nd and 3rd instar nymphs of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Aphis gossypii Glover was analyzed by two methods. Firstly, we measured the percentage of parasitized hosts in non-choice tests in a density of 20 aphids per sweet-pepper leaf. Secondly, the searching behavior in choice and non-choice tests was evaluated by determining the number of encountered hosts and attacked hosts, the total number of larvae encountered and the percentage of hosts with parasitoid larvae inside. The observations were made under a stereomicroscope in a sweet-pepper leaf disc (43 mm) with 16 aphids in a Petri dish (50 mm). In the non-choice test, parasitism was 52 and 75% for M. persicae and A gossypii, respectively. There was no difference in the percentage of emergence (86% in A. gossypii and 81% in M. persicae), as well as in the duration of the first visit and in the number of encounters between the parasitoid and the two species of aphids in choice and non-choice tests. That A. colemani prefers A. gossypii above M. persicae can be concluded from the higher number of attacked A. gossypii by the parasitoid and the higher number of parasitoid larvae found in this aphid in both tests. The correlation between the number of stings of the ovipositor per host and the number of parasitoid larvae found in the host was positive and significant (R = 0.92 and P = 0.0001). Concerning superparasitism, always only one larva of A. colemani was found alive in a host and none of the parasitized hosts presented embryo nymphs inside them.
Insecta; searching behavior; oviposition behavior
