Biological Control Potential of Anisopteromalus calandrae against Callosobruchus maculates in Brown Lentils under Controlled Environmental Conditions

Abstract

T HIS research was conducted to assess the parasitic potential of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) against a larval parasitoid ofpulse beetle (Callosobruchus maculates). Different pairs of host insects (pulse beetle) (5, 15, and 30) were released in to jars of 100g and 150g of brown lentils with constant pairs of A. calandrae for each group. The statistical data showed that when the population of C. maculatus was much higher even than its parasitoid showed a significant effect as in case of 30 pairs of C. maculatus and 2 pairs of A. calandrae (32-38% parasitism) in different situations (100g and 150g brown lentils). The parasitic potential increased with increase in the parasitoid population as in case of 15 pairs of insect pest and 5 pairs of parasitoid 80-84% parasitism), 10 pairs of pest and 5 pairs of parasitoid (88-94% parasitism) and 10 pairs of pest insect and 10 pairs of parasitoid (94-98% parasitism). Comparison of the data showed that A. calandrae is most effective in 3:1 in both approaches.