Dynamics of a class of host–parasitoid models with external stocking upon parasitoids

Abstract

Abstract This paper is motivated by the series of research papers that consider parasitoids’ external input upon the host–parasitoid interactions. We explore a class of host–parasitoid models with variable release and constant release of parasitoids. We assume that the host population has a constant rate of increase, but we do not assume any density dependence regulation other than parasitism acting on the host population. We compare the obtained results for constant stocking with the results for proportional stocking. We observe that under a specific condition, the release of a constant number of parasitoids can eventually drive the host population (pests) to extinction. There is always a boundary equilibrium where the host population extinct occurs, and the parasitoid population is stabilized at the constant stocking level. The constant and variable stocking can decrease the host population level in the unique interior equilibrium point; on the other hand, the parasitoid population level stays constant and does not depend on stocking. We prove the existence of Neimark–Sacker bifurcation and compute the approximation of the closed invariant curve. Then we consider a few host–parasitoid models with proportional and constant stocking, where we choose well-known probability functions of parasitism. By using the software package Mathematica we provide numerical simulations to support our study.

Keywords

• Difference equations
• Equilibrium
• Host–parasitoid
• Neimark–Sacker bifurcation
• Stability
• Stocking