The oviposition behavior of the scelionids Telenomus busseolae, Telenomus isis and the trichogrammatid Trichogramma bournieri was studied on eggs of lepidopteran cereal stemborers, which included the noctuid Busseola fusca, Sesamia calamistis, Sesamia nonagrioides, the crambid Chilo partellus, and the pyralid Eldana saccharina. Unlike Tr. bournieri, Telenomus spp. did not attack eggs of C. partellus and E. saccharina. Five distinct behavioral steps were observed, which included foraging, drumming with the antennae on the eggs, ovipositor insertion, egg marking, and walking and resting. Foraging, walking and resting were observed less frequently than the other behaviors. There was a clear hierarchy of behavioral steps leading to successful parasitism, which culminated in marking of eggs. Self-superparasitism (i.e., oviposition in an egg previously parasitized by the same female) was between 2.7–5.9% indicating that the three parasitoids were able to discern eggs that were already parasitized. Earlier studies on the bionomics and host finding ability together with the present findings on the oviposition behavior of the different parasitoids cannot explain differences in parasitism rates by the parasitoids in the field. It is suggested that the plant species and alternative hosts occurring in crop and natural habitats may play an important role in the population dynamics of the parasitoids and affect their importance in controlling key pests of maize.

中文翻译：

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Telenomus busseolae、Tenomus isis和Trichogramma bournieri在东非谷螟卵上的产卵行为

以鳞翅目禾谷类螟虫卵为研究对象，研究了缨线虫Telenomus busseolae、Telenomus isis 和Trichogramma bournieri 的产卵行为，这些螟虫包括夜蛾Busseola fusca、Sesamia calamistis、Sesamia nonagrioides、crambicchard 和Elecilia 不像Tr。bournieri, Telenomus spp. 不攻击 C. partellus 和 E. saccharina 的卵。观察到五个不同的行为步骤，包括觅食、用触角敲击卵、产卵器插入、卵标记以及行走和休息。觅食、步行和休息的频率低于其他行为。导致成功寄生的行为步骤有明确的层次结构，最终以标记卵为高潮。自我超寄生（即 先前被同一雌性寄生的卵中的产卵率在 2.7-5.9% 之间，表明这三种寄生蜂能够辨别已经寄生的卵。早期对生物组学和宿主发现能力的研究以及目前对不同寄生蜂产卵行为的研究结果无法解释该领域寄生蜂寄生率的差异。这表明发生在作物和自然栖息地的植物物种和替代宿主可能在寄生蜂的种群动态中发挥重要作用，并影响它们在控制玉米关键害虫方面的重要性。早期对生物组学和宿主发现能力的研究以及目前对不同寄生蜂产卵行为的研究结果无法解释该领域寄生蜂寄生率的差异。这表明发生在作物和自然栖息地的植物物种和替代宿主可能在寄生蜂的种群动态中发挥重要作用，并影响它们在控制玉米关键害虫方面的重要性。早期对生物组学和宿主发现能力的研究以及目前对不同寄生蜂产卵行为的研究结果无法解释该领域寄生蜂寄生率的差异。这表明发生在作物和自然栖息地的植物物种和替代宿主可能在寄生蜂的种群动态中发挥重要作用，并影响它们在控制玉米关键害虫方面的重要性。