The jumping activity of cocoons of Batyplectes anurus (Thomson) increased about 3-fold when they were exposed to light and/or heat (43°C). When equal numbers of cocoons of B. anurus and B. curculionis (Thomson) (the latter species cannot jump) were exposed to the hyper parasite Dibrachs cavus (Walker) in the laboratory, 5 times more B. curculionis were attacked. These results suggest that this unusual behavioral characteristic increases the survival of diapausing B. anurus larvae in cocoons by enabling many to escape hyperparasites and unfavorable micro climates in alfalfa fields.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
W. H. Day (1970) studied this question.