Mating Attributes Relating to Parasitization and Productivity in Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Rearing on Host Indian Meal Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

The mating attributes in relating to parasitism and progeny production capacity of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor Say, using Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) as a host, were investigated in laboratory studies. The results indicated that 100% of the host larvae were parasitized by different individuals of H. hebetor females that were mated by the same male. Mating duration did not differ significantly among different successive matings with different females and had no effect on the rate of parasitism. In general, pairs that had their copulation early after emergence exhibited the maximum rate of parasitism as compared to delayed intervals. Moreover, the age of the H. hebetor females had no effect on the percentage of parasitism. The maximum parasitism percentage was recorded for the H. hebetor individuals that had been developed from the age group of the 6-d-old adults. The male: female ratios did not differ significantly among the female age groups. The percentage of parasitism clearly indicated a decrease with the increase of the male: female ratio. Overall, the results of the present work can be further utilized in mass rearing and release of H. hebetor in biological control programs in stored product protection.

Host deprivation effects on population performance and paralysis rates of Habrobracon hebetor (hymenoptera: Braconidae)

“…However, it caused a significant difference between 10‐ and 20‐day‐old mothers in the same treatments (Table 2). This is a general trend by which offspring longevity decreases as the age of the mother increases, as shown in Brachionus manjavacas 39 and a previous study on H. hebetor 40 …”

“…This is a general trend by which offspring longevity decreases as the age of the mother increases, as shown in Brachionus manjavacas 39 and a previous study on H. hebetor. 40 Sex ratio is an important factor influencing the population performance of insects. In this study, the sex ratio of H. hebetor was consistently female-biased at different times of host deprivation.…”

Development and diapause induction of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at different photoperiods

“…In this context, generalizations regarding the "optimum" conditions that are related with diapause should be avoided, as any "diapause"-related control strategy may not be accurate. On the other hand, considering that P. interpunctella is an ideal species to rear insect parasitoids, standardization of life table characteristics of a given population may be valuable to produce large numbers of parasitoids whenever these are needed 70,71 . Hence, considering our results, we have found that larvae of P. interpunctella can be used with success at various conditions, as the effect of different photoperiod regimes does not drastically affect diapause induction, when these larvae are reared at 17 °C.…”

Cold storage-mediated rearing of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood on eggs of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) and Galleria mellonella L.

“…For the same species, Andreadis et al [48] found that cold tolerance was negatively correlated with parasitoid age. We are unaware if egg exposure to low temperatures increases their suitability for parasitism, in the same way that larval irradiation positively affects parasitism in moth larvae by H. hebetor [49], but this hypothesis needs additional investigation. Considering the overall data for this series of bioassays, we assume that older eggs were more susceptible to low temperatures as compared to young eggs.…”