Effect of Temperature on Development, Survival, and Fecundity ofMicroplitis manilae(Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

Microplitis manilae Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid, is a potential biological control agent of both Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) and Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Aspects of the climatic requirements for development, including survival, longevity, and fecundity of M. manilae were studied at six constant temperature regimes (17, 20, 23, 26, 29, and 32°C) in the laboratory. The results showed that developmental duration for egg, larva, pupa, and the entire immature stages shortened in response to temperature increasing from 17 to 32°C. Survival rates of different developmental stages were higher at 20-29°C than at other temperatures. Longevity of M. manilae adults shortened with increasing temperature. The maximum fecundity of M. manilae female equaled 261.0 eggs/female at 26°C. Minimum threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature for completing a generation of M. manilae were 11.04°C and 205.98 degrees-days, respectively. Both intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) of M. manilae did not differ between 26 and 29°C, but those were significantly higher at 26 and 29°C than at any other temperatures. The highest net reproduction rate (r(0)) was observed at 26°C, with the value of 97.77, but the lowest was 11.79 at 32°C. These results suggest that the parasitoid is well adapted to temperate and subtropical climates, which implies a significant potential for using M. manilae to control S. exigua because most of areas occupied by these two pests belong to temperate and subtropical regions in southeastern Asia.

Longevity and survival ofLeptocybe invasa(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an invasive gall inducer onEucalyptus, with different diets and temperatures

“…Low L. invasa adult survival at higher temperatures was similar to that observed for Microplitis manilae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) ( Qiu et al, 2012 ). Increased survival at low temperatures can be associated with reduced activity and metabolism ( Bleicher & Parra, 1990 ) and low females survival at higher temperatures may be due to metabolic increases or enzyme destruction at higher temperatures ( Mohan, Verma & Singh, 1992 ).…”

Reproductive and developmental biology of the emerald ash borer parasitoid Spathius galinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as affected by temperature

“…Of all the climatic variables, temperature is perhaps the most influential on insect distribution, reproduction, development, and survival (Baffoe et al, 2012;Bale et al, 2002;Ju et al, 2011;Infante 2000). Thus, identifying which temperatures favor rapid population growth is important not only for optimizing release strategies (Pilkington and Hoddle, 2006a), but this knowledge is critical for mass-rearing programs that aim to produce the most quality (fittest) biological control agents in the shortest time frames (Qiu et al, 2012).…”

Interspecific competition between Snellenius manilae and Meteorus pulchricornis, larval parasitoids of Spodoptera litura

“…Previous studies have indicated that the duration of the egg stage may be the principal factor determining the success of a parasitoid in intrinsic competition because the first-hatching species can use the host's resources immediately and attack the eggs of the other parasitoids (Tillman & Powell, 1992;Bajpai et al, 2006;Tian et al, 2008). Qiu et al (2012) reported that the eggs of S. manilae hatched in approximately 2.7 days (26°C, LD 14:10 h) when second-instar Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was the host. When M. pulchricornis was observed to parasitize Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the egg period was approximately 3.8 days (25 ± 1°C, LD 16:8 h) (Magdaraog et al, 2012).…”