Estimating Parasitism of Colorado Potato Beetle Eggs, \u3ci\u3eLeptinotarsa Decemlineata\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), by \u3ci\u3eEdovum Puttleri\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Abstract

A computer simulation was used to evaluate methods for estimating parasitism of Colorado potato beetle egg mass populations by Edovum puttleri. The algorithm incorporated the specific attack behavior of E. puttleri, and a development time for parasitized egg masses of ca. 2.9 times that of healthy egg masses. Of the methods compared, a modification of Southwood\u27s graphical technique was found to be most accurate in relation to the true parasitism derived from the algorithm. A regression equation is presented to correct the error in this method at high levels of parasitism. A second simulation was used to test the accuracy of this correcter where in a jacknife procedure was used to generate a mean and variance for estimates of parasitism