Abstract:
The rates of parasitism of Theridion evexum by the parasitoid wasp Zatypota petronae, and Allocyclosa bifurca by Polysphincta gutfreundi, were followed for two years. Parasitism of T evexum was very low (mean 1.39 +/- 1.8%), and restricted to nearly seven months of the year. Parasitism of A. bifurca was higher (mean 7.8 +/- 7.6%), and did not show a seasonal pattern. Reproduction of the host spider T evexum was highly seasonal, with only one, highly coordinated generation per year, while adults of A. bifurca were present year round. Short-term autocorrelation on parasitism rates over time at different sites suggest that P. gutfreundi tend to return to the same sites to hunt hosts over periods of a few weeks.