Habitat, directional orientation, and entrance diameter preference of northern Michigan parasitoid larvae provisioning.

Abstract

We explored northern Michigan parasitoids by looking at three factors that may afect larvae provisioning: habitat, direction, and provision entrance diameter. We distributed 275 wooden blocks over two habitats, lakeside and woods-edge, and allowed provisioning to occur over approximately 40 days. In fastening blocks to trees, we orientated blocks in three directions: North-South, East-West, and Vertical. Diameter of the prepared hole in blocks where provision occurred was noted upon collection of provisioned. Parasitoids preferred the woods-edge site over the lakeside site for larvae provisioning (Mann-Whitney U, U=10435.5, p=0.004). Parasitoids showed no preference in the orientation of the wooden blocks (Kruskal-Wallis, p>0.05) or for entrance diameter (Chi-Squared, p>0.05) for larval provisioning.