The development and morphology of immature phases of Spalangia gemina Boucek and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Rondani are described from a laboratory reared culture maintained on the house fly Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Body width and length of pupal parasitoid were recorded. These 2 characteristics were determined for each larval instar and classified using cluster analysis in the SAS program. Developmental time from egg to adult of S. gemina and P. vindimiae was approximately 18 - 24 days and 15 - 18 days respectively at 25±3 °C and 45 - 65 % relative humidity. Eggs of S. gemina and P. vindemiae are hymenopteriform. Their incubation times are 24 - 48 h. The results show that the different numbers of larval instars in these parasitoids are well classified. The larvae of S. gemina has 3 instars with protuberances present on the last instar, whereas, P. vindemiae has 4 larval instars and the final instar lacks proturberances. The instars of P. vindemiae are morphologically similar except size and color of internal organs. Prepupae of both species are exarate and noticeably excrete meconium from the body. This information on preimaginal stages can be useful in the production and identification of parasitoids of the house fly.
The Malaysian fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel), is a pest of peppers (Capsicum spp.) in Thailand. A field trial was undertaken to determine whether five commonly used cultivars of C. annuum, with marked differences in morphology and pungency, varied in their susceptibility to infestation by B. latifrons. Experiments carried out in both the dry and rainy seasons showed temporal differences in the number of fruits per cultivar, but there was no effect of variety or season on the proportion of fruits attacked or the number of pupae obtained per infested fruit However, the number of dead larvae per infested fruit was significantly higher, and the percent of pupae giving rise to adults was lower for the larger sweet pepper than other cultivars tested.
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