This README file refers to the data reported in manuscript EVA-2019-358-OA published in EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS Authors: Silvan Rossbacher & Christoph Vorburger Title: Prior adaptation of parasitoids improves biological control of symbiont-protected pests The study design is explained in the publication. For queries please contact christoph.vorburger@eawag.ch. This data submission contains three files: pop_dynamics_for_DRYAD.txt plant_fresh_weights_for_DRYAD.txt endpoint_props_for_DRYAD.txt The file pop_dynamics_for_DRYAD.txt contains the data on the aphid and parasitoid population dynamics analyzed in the paper. The file has 9 columns: cage: Number identifying the cage, which was the experimental unit. The experiment comprised 25 cages, with five replicate cages for each of 5 treatments. treatment: Experimental treatment (5 levels). control: no parasitoids; H-: parasitoids adapted to Hamiltonella-free aphids; H76: parasitoids adapted to H76-infected aphids; H402: parasitoids adapted to H402-infected aphids; mix: mixture of parasitoids adapted to H76- and H402-infected aphids time: Time point of measurement (counting of aphids and parasitoid mummies) in days. Starting with day 0 (addition of aphids to cages). n_aphids: Total number of aphids counted on one plant that was removed from each cage n_mummies: Total number of parasitoid mummies counted on one plant that was removed from each cage date: Calendar date of the measurement. pl_surface: Plant surface. Estimate of the size of the plant on which aphids and parasitoid mummies were counted in square centimeters (cm2) surface area available for aphid feeding. aphids_cm2: Aphid density estimate (individuals per cm2 plant surface, i.e. n_aphids/pl_surface) mummies_cm2: Parasitoid density estimate (mummies per cm2 plant surface, i.e. n_mummies/pl_surface) The file plant_fresh_weights_for_DRYAD.txt contains the data on plant fresh weights at the end of the experiment. The file has 3 columns: cage: Number identifying the cage, which was the experimental unit. The experiment comprised 25 cages, with five replicate cages for each of 5 treatments. treatment: Experimental treatment (5 levels). control: no parasitoids; H-: parasitoids adapted to Hamiltonella-free aphids; H76: parasitoids adapted to H76-infected aphids; H402: parasitoids adapted to H402-infected aphids; mix: mixture of parasitoids adapted to H76- and H402-infected aphids pl_weight: Plant weight. Total fresh weight in grams of all plants present in each cage when the experiment was terminated. The file endpoint_props_for_DRYAD.txt contains the data on aphid population composition at the end of the experiment. The file has 5 columns: cage: Number identifying the cage, which was the experimental unit. The experiment comprised 25 cages, with five replicate cages for each of 5 treatments. treatment: Experimental treatment (5 levels). control: no parasitoids; H-: parasitoids adapted to Hamiltonella-free aphids; H76: parasitoids adapted to H76-infected aphids; H402: parasitoids adapted to H402-infected aphids; mix: mixture of parasitoids adapted to H76- and H402-infected aphids prop_neg: Proportion of Hamiltonella-free aphids in each cage when the experiment was terminated (estimated from a haphazard subsample of aphids from each cage) prop_h402: Proportion of H402-infected aphids in each cage when the experiment was terminated (estimated from a haphazard subsample of aphids from each cage) prop_h76: Proportion of H76-infected aphids in each cage when the experiment was terminated (estimated from a haphazard subsample of aphids from each cage)