Development of Cleruchoides noackae, an egg-parasitoid of Thaumastocoris peregrinus, in eggs laid on different substrates, with different ages and post-cold storage

Abstract

Cleruchoides noackae Lin and Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is an egg parasitoid of Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellape (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae). The parasitism and development of C. noackae was studied in T. peregrinus eggs of different ages, laid on eucalyptus leaves or paper towel and stored at 5 °C. The emergence, sex ratio and development of C. noackae and hatched nymphs of T. peregrinus were evaluated. This parasitoid had an emergence rate higher than 60% from zero to one, one to two, and two to three-day old eggs and lower than 10% for those 3–4 and 4–5 days old. The female proportion was 78% and the egg-adult period for C. noackae was 19.5 days. The use of T. peregrinus eggs up to three days old, laid on paper towel and stored at 5 °C for 14 days did not affect the biological parameters of C. nockae and should be used for mass rearing of this parasitoid.