Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Entomophaga

Publication Date

9-1-1991

Abstract

The biology and behaviour of Tetrastichus sesamiae Risbec, a pupal endoparasitoid of Maruca testulalis Geyer, were studied under laboratory conditions. Most adults emerged from the host pupae between 08.00 h and 09.00 h and mating and oviposition started almost immediately. Both ♂♂ and ♀♀ mated repeatedly, and each ♀ could lay eggs for up to 6 days and in up to 5 host pupae. Progeny production ranged from 0-263 offspring per ♀ and adult longevity was from 4.3-13.9 days. The quality of food available to the adults was a major factor influencing progeny production, and longevity. The species was capable of parasitizing and completing development on pupae of such other major Lepidopteran crop pests as Chilo partellus Swinhoe, Busseola fusca Fuller, Eldana saccharina Wlk and Spodoptera exempta Wlk, an important finding for biological control of these pests under intercropped agro ecosystems. Apart from parasitism, ♀♀ of T. sesamiae also caused considerable mortality by stinging, and presumably paralyzing, host pupae without ovipositing. © 1991 Lavoisier Abonnements.

Keywords

bionomics, Maruca testulalis, parasitoid, Tetrastichus sesamiae

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