Dispersal and parasitic ability of Anisopteromalus calandrae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) against Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) larvae in an experimental warehouse

Abstract

Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a solitary ectoparasitoid parasitizing most stored-product insects. The ability of A. calandrae to locate and parasitize late-instar larvae of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) was investigated in an experimental warehouse. Three residence times (the time between wasps release and removing from the experimental room, i.e., 1, 2, and 3 d) were tested. The number of A. calandrae progeny increased with increasing residence times, and the progeny were male biased. After releasing A. calandrae for 1, 2, and 3 d, the percentages of female offspring of A. calandrae were 12.77, 27.57, and 30.89% respectively. Mortality of the late-instar larvae of L. serricorne also significantly increased with increasing residence times, reaching the highest mortality 64.30% after wasps release for 3 d, followed by 40.45% (2 d), and 18.71% (1 d). The control ability and disperse range of the A. calandrae also significantly increased over time. About 261.91, 566.34, and 900.32 late-instar larvae of L. serricorne were paralyzed and oviposited by A. calandrae after 1, 2, and 3 d of wasps release, respectively. All L. serricorne larvae 0.85, 2.14, and 4.28 m away from the release site of A. calandrae were parasitized after wasps release for 1, 2, and 3 d, respectively. The present study results are helpful to the rational use of A. calandrae for controlling stored product pests.