none When the host develops without the diapause, the mortality of parasitoid eggs and/or larvae of the 1st instar sharply increases if parasitization took place (1) during the feeding of host larvae of the 3rd instar when the host survives most often; and (2) before pupation when parasitization mostly results in mutual death. When the host develops with the diapause, only the first case takes place. Taking into account the mortality among C. vicina larvae of the younger instars, the probability of completion of the A. manducator development is mostly high in the case of parasitization during the period of crop emptying. If there is a possibility of choosing, the peak of A. manducator preference falls on the period of completion of the host feeding. i.e., braconid females select the biggest host larvae among those which can be found on the host food (meat). Adaptative value of such preference consists, probably, in the fact that under natural conditions the bigger larvae can complete their feeding with the higher probability without suffering from the lack of food or from predators.