Data from: Parasitoid wasps influence where aphids die via an inter-specific indirect genetic effect

Host–parasite interactions are a key paradigm for understanding the process of coevolution. Central to coevolution is how genetic variation in interacting species allows parasites to evolve manipulative strategies. However, genetic variation in the parasite may also be associated with host phenotype changes, thereby changing the selection on both species. For instance, parasites often induce changes in the behaviour of their host to maximize their own fitness, yet the quantitative genetic basis for behavioural manipulation has not been fully demonstrated. Here, we show that the genotype of the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi has a significant effect on where its aphid host Acyrthosiphon pisum moves to die following parasitism, including the likelihood that the aphid abandons the plant. These results provide a clear example of an interspecific indirect genetic effect whereby the genetics of one species influences the expression of a specific behavioural trait in another.宿主-寄生虫相互作用是解析协同进化过程的关键范式。协同进化的核心议题在于，互作物种间的遗传变异如何促使寄生虫演化出行为操控策略。然而，寄生虫自身的遗传变异也可能与宿主表型改变相关联，进而改变两个物种所承受的选择压力。例如，寄生虫常通过诱导宿主行为改变以最大化自身适合度，但行为操控的数量遗传基础尚未得到充分证实。本研究证实，寄生蜂蚜茧蜂（Aphidius ervi）的基因型会显著影响其宿主豌豆蚜（Acyrthosiphon pisum）被寄生后死亡前的迁移位点，包括蚜虫脱离寄主植物的概率。上述结果清晰展现了一类种间间接遗传效应：即某一物种的遗传学特征会调控另一物种特定行为性状的表达。