Development time and host-parasitoid stability: An experimental test

The duration of specific life stages and relative lengths of the predator and prey life cycles can, in theory, exert strong influences on population dynamics and may be important considerations in managing pest outbreaks. However, rigorous experimental tests of this theory do not exist. We conducted a microcosm experiment using the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) and its parasitoid (Anisopteromalus calandrae) to assess how a 60% increase (long-duration treatment) or 60% decrease (short-duration treatment) in the invulnerable (late larval to mid pupal) host stage affected host-parasitoid population dynamics. We predicted that stability is most likely for microcosms in the short-duration treatment, whereas generation cycles should occur for the long-duration and control treatments, with a longer period in the long-duration treatment. Our results largely support these predictions. In the control treatment, persistent oscillations occurred with a period of about one generation, con..., , # Data from: Development time and host-parasitoid stability: An experimental test Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.05qfttfj4](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.05qfttfj4) ## Description of the data and file structure Data for all analyses are provided as *.csv files. Each csv file has an associated R code that was used for the analysis of these data. R version 4.3.1. Model simulations were also conducted using R. For these simulations, separate models and code were used for each of the three treatments (control, long-duration, and short-duration). Models for each treatment are also divided into those for a scenario with host beans added at 12-day intervals (pulsed addition) and a scenario with host beans added daily (no pulse). The latter R files have a “_ndnp2.R”. ### Files and variables #### File: Bean_fate_LD-SD_experiment.csv **Description:** This dataset summarizes the experimental study on the fate of moth beans in the experimental microcosms. Codes for each column of data are as fol..., , , **Changes after Mar 31, 2026:**  There was a minor bug in the R code for the models that does not affect the analyses reported in the manuscript. It involves a calculation of the total number host fed each day. The code calculates the number host fed with a one day delay, instead of the current number.特定生命阶段的时长以及捕食者与猎物生命周期的相对长度，理论上可对种群动态产生显著调控作用，同时也是害虫暴发防控工作中的重要考量因素。然而，目前尚无针对该理论的严谨实验验证。本研究以绿豆象（Callosobruchus maculatus）及其寄生蜂（Anisopteromalus calandrae）为实验对象，开展微宇宙实验（microcosm experiment），探究寄主的不可侵害阶段（晚幼虫期至中蛹期）时长分别增加60%（长时长处理组，long-duration treatment）与减少60%（短时长处理组，short-duration treatment）时，会对寄主-寄生蜂种群动态产生何种影响。我们提出如下假设：短时长处理组的微宇宙最易维持种群稳定；长时长处理组与对照组则会出现世代周期振荡，且长时长处理组的振荡周期更长。本研究结果大体验证了上述假设。对照组中观测到周期约为一个世代的持续种群振荡，…… # 数据来源：《发育时长与寄主-寄生蜂种群稳定性：一项实验检验》 数据集DOI：[10.5061/dryad.05qfttfj4](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.05qfttfj4) ## 数据与文件结构说明 本研究所有分析所用数据均以*.csv格式文件存储。每份csv文件均配有用于对应数据处理与分析的配套R代码，所用R版本为4.3.1。模型模拟同样通过R语言完成。针对对照组、长时长处理组、短时长处理组这三类实验处理，我们分别采用了独立的模型与代码。每类处理组的模型又进一步划分为两种饲喂情景：寄主豆（moth beans）每12天添加一次（脉冲添加模式），以及寄主豆每日添加一次（无脉冲添加模式）。其中无脉冲添加模式对应的R文件命名带有"_ndnp2.R"后缀。 ### 文件与变量说明 #### 文件：Bean_fate_LD-SD_experiment.csv **描述：** 本数据集汇总了实验微宇宙中蛾豆存活状态的相关实验研究结果。各数据列的代码说明如下…… --- ## 2026年3月31日后的修订说明 模型所用的R代码存在一处微小漏洞，该漏洞未对论文已发表的分析结果造成影响。问题出在每日寄主取食总量的计算环节：代码实际计算的是延迟一天的取食数量，而非当日的实际取食数量。