Color Preference and Active Regularity of the Parasite Wasps of Ericerus pela

Abstract

The color preference of the Parasite Wasps of Ericerus pela was studied in the white wax garden. Eight kinds of color boards (red，yellow，blue，blue-green，green，grey brown，white and black) were used to attract the parasite wasps of Ericerus pela. The active regularity of the parasite wasps E. pela were observed during four periods per day ( 6：00－9：00，9：00－12：00，12：00－15：00 and 15：00－18：00 ) at three heights of the host trees ( the crown， middle and lower part) with four directions ( east，south，west and north) during sunny，cloudy and rainy days. The results showed that three dominant species of the parasite wasps of E. pela, Microterys ericeri Ishii ; Metaphycus ericeri Xu et Jiang and Microterys sinicus Jiang had obvious preference to the yellow color. The next color preference in turn were blue，blue-green，green，white，grey brown，red and black. Numbers of the trapped parasite wasps were various in different parts of the host trees. The largest number was in the middle of the host tree，next was in their lower part， and the fewest number was in their crown. The percentage of parasite wasps was 52.21%，39.80% and 7.99%， respectively. The activities of the parasite wasps were closely related to distribution of E. pela on the host trees. There was not obvious difference of the wasp activities in different directions. An active climax occurred from 6：00－9：00 and then appeared from 15：00－18：00. Parasite wasps of E. pela were more active in sunny days rather than cloudy and rainy days.