| Acknowledgments | |
| 1 | Introduction | 3 |
| 1.1 | Parasitoid Definitions | 6 |
| 1.2 | Parasitoid Natural History | 7 |
| 1.3 | Unusual Life Histories | 10 |
| 1.4 | Parasitoid Taxonomy | 16 |
| 1.5 | Evolutionary Transitions | 21 |
| 2 | Host Location | 26 |
| 2.1 | Conceptual Models of Host Location | 26 |
| 2.2 | Mechanisms of Host Location | 29 |
| 2.3 | Learning | 42 |
| 2.4 | Comparative Studies of Host Location | 48 |
| 2.5 | Patch Use | 50 |
| 3 | Oviposition Behavior | 83 |
| 3.1 | Host Acceptance | 83 |
| 3.2 | Clutch Size | 99 |
| 3.3 | Superparasitism | 126 |
| 4 | Sex Ratio | 151 |
| 4.1 | Sex Determination in Parasitoid Wasps | 152 |
| 4.2 | Fisher's Principle | 156 |
| 4.3 | Local Mate Competition and Sex Ratio in Structured Populations | 161 |
| 4.4 | Sex Ratio and Host quality | 192 |
| 4.5 | Other Factors | 202 |
| 5 | Selfish Genetic Elements | 212 |
| 5.1 | Non-Mendelian Genetic Elements in Nasonia | 212 |
| 5.2 | Microorganisms and Thelytoky | 218 |
| 5.3 | Primary Male Production in Heteronomous Hyperparasitoids | 221 |
| 5.4 | Gregarious Oviposition in Muscidifurax | 222 |
| 6 | The Immature Parasitoid | 225 |
| 6.1 | Host Quality and the Juvenile Parasitoid | 226 |
| 6.2 | Host Defenses | 231 |
| 6.3 | Countermeasures | 235 |
| 6.4 | Host Manipulation by Endoparasitoids | 248 |
| 6.5 | Interactions between Immature Parasitoids | 255 |
| 7 | The Adult Parasitoid | 260 |
| 7.1 | Size and Fitness | 260 |
| 7.2 | Mating | 265 |
| 7.3 | Resource Defense and Maternal Care | 284 |
| 7.4 | Host Defense against the Adult Parasitoid | 285 |
| 7.5 | Dispersal | 291 |
| 7.6 | Defense from Predators | 298 |
| 7.7 | Host Synchronization | 301 |
| 8 | Life Histories and Community Patterns | 307 |
| 8.1 | Life History Evolution | 307 |
| 8.2 | Host Range and Parasitoid Species Load | 321 |
| 8.3 | Parasitoid Diversity | 355 |
| References | 367 |
| Author Index | 449 |
| Subject Index | 459 |
| Taxonomic Index | 465 |
