Bibliography: leaves 175-191. Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) is a solitary endoparasitoid of the eggs of many pentatomid bugs. It is a quasi-gregarious scelenoid and aggressively defends host patches. In the Adelaide (S. Aust.) region its most abundant host is the native horehound bug, Agonoscelis rutila (Fabricius). This study of patch defence draws together important areas of research in parasitoid behavioural ecology, including the theories of adaptive superparasitism, sex ratio decisions, foraging behaviour and contest resolution.

Bibliography: leaves 175-191. / xx, 191 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) is a solitary endoparasitoid of the eggs of many pentatomid bugs. It is a quasi-gregarious scelenoid and aggressively defends host patches. In the Adelaide (S. Aust.) region its most abundant host is the native horehound bug, Agonoscelis rutila (Fabricius). This study of patch defence draws together important areas of research in parasitoid behavioural ecology, including the theories of adaptive superparasitism, sex ratio decisions, foraging behaviour and contest resolution. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Crop Protection, 1997