For me the difference between both would be that the kleptoparasite only consume food provisions of the (developing) host without directly killing host, whereas the kleptoparasitoid would consume the provision and the host (usually egg or developing larvae). However I found this definition that confused me: Cleptoparasitoidism (or Kleptoparasitoidism): A form of multiple parasitoidism in which a parasitoid preferentially attacks a host that is already parasitoidized by another species.
Accordingly, a kleptoparasitoid is a kind of hyperparasitoid.
Is this definition correct and am I wrong with my first statement?
Hi ;
A kleptoparasitoid is a parasitoid that depend on another parasitoid to increases its reproductive success. It may use the oviposition holes or search trails made by another parasitoid species, to lead it to the host (Kraaijeveld 1999).
See : Kraaijeveld (1999), Kleptoparasitism as an explanation for paradoxical oviposition decisions of the parasitoid Asobara tabida. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 12: 129–133. doi: 10.1046/j.1420-9101.1999.00016.x
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1420-9101.1999.00016.x/full
Thank you very much for this reference. Accordingly, a kleptoparasitoid cannot occur without the previous presence of another parasitoid. However, a kleptoparasitoid still has the same host as the other parasitoid and is therefore not a "hyperparasitoid" (killing the other parasitoid), is this correct?
Best
I think it depends on the behavior of the insect it self, it can be klepto or hyperparasitoid and it can be both. About this you can read this chapter it is a very good one:
M. Kenis, B. Wermelinger, J.-C. Grégoire .(2004). Research on Parasitoids and Predators of Scolytidae – A Review. in: Bark and Wood Boring Insects in Living Trees in Europe, a Synthesis. pp 237-290.
Thank you very much, it gives a good overview of the different kinds of parasitic strategies, much helpful!
Some insects such as Gasteruptiidae (Hymenoptera) were known as cleptoparasites (or kleptoparasites) but are actually predator-inquilines in the nests of solitary bees, etc. The wasp larva emerges and kills the host bee egg or larva and then consumes the pollen store that the bee provided for its larva.
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