Development of Apanteles congregatus (Say) in its host, Manduca sexta (L.), was slower when oviposition occurred in 1st or 2nd instar hosts than when oviposition occurred in 3rd or 4th instar hosts. When 1st instar hosts were parasitized the parasite larvae usually emerged from 4th instar hosts if small numbers of parasites per host were present and from 5th (last) instar hosts when large numbers of parasites were present. When 3rd instar hosts were parasitized the parasite larvae emerged from 5th instar hosts. In the laboratory, 5th instar hosts were parasitized and in some cases the parasites completed their development and emerged from the host while it was still a 5th instar.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")