Food conversion efficiency of a parasitic wasp, <i>Nemeritis canescens</i>

Abstract

Abstract. 1. The calorific efficiency with which N. canescens converts the larva of E. kuehniella into its own tissues has been measured by microbomb calorimetry. 2. The calorific values found for Ephestia larvae are high in comparison with those of other insects and may be associated with their high fat content. 3. The growth efficiency of 61% achieved by Nemeritis is sustained by the higher assimilation efficiency of 94%, owing to the parasitoid's habit of feeding directly on the host's haemolymph. 4. The overall efficiency of conversion of adult moth (host) to adult ichneumonid (parasitoid) is of the order of 59% which is broadly representative of endoparasitoids and higher than that achieved by true predators.