TOWARDS A GENERAL-THEORY OF HOST ACCEPTANCE BY APHID PARASITOIDS

I present the thesis that the most effective means of developing a unified theory of host exploitation by aphidophagous insects would be through a rational, first-principles approach. This approach entails the use of life history theory wherein host acceptance ''decisions'' are evaluated on the basis of contribution to current and future lifetime reproductive success wherein future success is discounted by life expectancy. A simple example involving egg load and host discrimination demonstrates the value of dynamic life history theory as a means of structuring experimental and empirically based research programs. Finally, I argue that a unified theory of host acceptance for aphidophagous insects must consider: (1) spatial distribution of hosts (2) hyperparasitoids and (3) population dynamics of telescoping generations of hosts.