Table 1 Life history traits of Necremnus tutae females when different instars of Tuta absoluta were offered.

From: Nonreproductive effects are more important than reproductive effects in a host feeding parasitoid

Host instars offered (n)

Host feedinga

Host feeding proportionb

Egg layingc

Parasitism proportiond

Host killinge

Host killing proportionf

Total host mortalityg

Longevity (days)

1st instar (26)

45.4 ± 5.8 a

0.62 ± 0.03 a

12.1 ± 3.3 ab

0.12 ± 0.02 b

23.4 ± 4.8

0.26 ± 0.02 c

80.9 ± 13.1 a

19.4 ± 2.3 a

2nd instar (24)

29.7 ± 4.9 b

0.41 ± 0.02 b

21.5 ± 5.7 a

0.25 ± 0.02 a

25.1 ± 5.0

0.34 ± 0.02 bc

76.2 ± 14.9 ab

15.9 ± 2.2 a

3rd instar (20)

27.0 ± 2.8 b

0.33 ± 0.01 c

25.5 ± 3.9 a

0.30 ± 0.02 a

31.0 ± 3.8

0.37 ± 0.02 b

83.4 ± 9.7 a

12.5 ± 1.2 ab

4th instar (21)

4.5 ± 0.9 c

0.13 ± 0.02 d

5.8 ± 1.6 b

0.12 ± 0.02 b

23.9 ± 3.9

0.75 ± 0.03 a

34.2 ± 6.0 b

7.0 ± 0.9 b

  1. aNo. of hosts fed upon.
  2. bHost feeding/total host mortality.
  3. cNo. of hosts parasitized.
  4. dEgg laying/total host mortality.
  5. eNo. of hosts stung without feeding upon them.
  6. fHost killing/total host mortality.
  7. gTotal no. of dead hosts.
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