Effect of hypoxia and its repercussions in packing pupae of the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for shipment

Abstract

ABSTRACTHypoxia periods of 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h combined with temperatures of 15°C, 20°C and 25°C were applied to Diachasmimorpha longicaudata pupae in packaging conditions. Alternating temperatures of 26–20–26°C were applied to pupae in three sequential 4-h periods less than 12 h of hypoxia, and the effect of hypoxia on the pupae was evaluated under ambient conditions in commercial shipping. The emergence, longevity, fecundity and flight ability of adult parasitoids were recorded. The duration of hypoxia (>24 h) and the higher temperature (25°C) significantly reduced the emergence and longevity of adults. The different temperatures, including the variation in temperature combined with hypoxia, showed no significant effect on fecundity or flight ability. The temperature and humidity recorded during commercial shipping under hypoxia did not show any effect on the emergence of parasitoids. As a consequence, hypoxia was only notably significant after 24 h, which occasionally occurs in practical packaging processes. The use of hypoxia for shipping D. longicaudata pupae can be widely recommended, but long shipping periods and high temperatures should still be avoided.