Pattern of parasitism in the carambola fruit fly, Bactrocera sp.(Malaysian A)(Dipt., Tephritidae) by Biosteres vandenboschi (Fullaway)(Hym., Braconidae)

Studies with carambolas collected from the field indicated that the mean number of of B. vandenboschi emerging from a larval patch (indicated externally by an ovipuncture) and from a whole fruit was respectively 5.02 ± 0.51 and 20.14 ± 1.93. In both cases, parasitism by B. vandenboschi was found to be inverse density dependent, with the respective equations of y = 97.99 e-0.12x and y = 32.54 e-0.03x where y = parasitism rate and x = total adult insects emerging from each fruit piece or a whole fruit. Likely reason for the inverse density dependent parasitism is the “spreading the risk” strategy employed by the female B. vandenboschi