Comparative biological parameters of Comperia merceti (compere) (Hym., Encyrtidae) and Anastatus tenuipes bolivar (Hym., Eupelmidae), oothecal parasitoids of the cockroach Supella longipalpa (Fab.)

Abstract

Biological parameters, such as longevity, brood size, development period, sex ratio, and fecundity of Comperia merceti (Comp.) and Anastatus tenuipes Bol., host-specific oothecal parasitoids of the cockroach Supella longipalpa (Fab.), were compared. There were no differences in longevity, brood size, development period, sex ratio, host age preferences, or host specificity. Differences did occur in their response to superparasitism, the number of progeny produced per adult female, and the number of hosts parasitized by adult females. In oothecae superparasitized by C. merceti , all of the progeny completed development but they were weak and smaller in size due to sibling competition. In the case of A. tenuipes , the supernumeraries were eliminated in the early stages of development and only normal progeny were produced from superparasitized oothecae. C. merceti produced more progeny per female, parasitized more hosts than A. tenuipes, and was the successful competitor in multiparasitism.