Factors affecting reproductive success and life history parameters of Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from three host-associated populations

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2016 Source:Biological Control Author(s): Dorna Saadat, Ali Asghar Seraj, Seyed Hossein Goldansaz, Livy Williams Augmentative releases of native natural enemies are viable strategies for suppression of crop pests. Successful implementation of this approach requires in-depth knowledge of the natural enemy, its host(s), and the agroecosystem. In particular, appropriate mass rearing and release strategies rely on a thorough understanding of the reproductive biology of the natural enemy. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of parasitoid source (host habitat origin), fruit condition (i.e., ease of host access for parasitoid), impact of using an alternative host for rearing, and winter-simulated cold storage of hosts on the reproductive performance of Bracon hebetor. Several life history parameters, including attack behavior, proportion of paralyzed hosts, parasitism, oviposition, offspring sex ratio, and life table parameters were measured. Wasps originating from a pomegranate orchard-Ectomyelois ceratoniae host habitat generally had greater reproductive performance than those sourced from stored dry fruit-Plodia interpunctella or tomato field-Helicoverpa armigera habitats. Hosts infesting intact pomegranate fruit suffered greater levels of attack (e.g., paralysis, parasitism, and oviposition) than did more accessible hosts infesting damaged fruit. However, offspring sex ratio was generally more female-biased in...
Source: Biological Control - Category: Biology Source Type: research