Fecundity and survival of Anagyrus kamali (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) under different feeding and storage temperature conditions

Laurent A Sagarra,Charles Vincent,Robin K Stewart

doi:10.14411/eje.2000.034

Abstract

The parasitoid, Anagyrus kamali Moursi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), has been recently introduced into the Caribbean as a biological control agent against the hibiscus mealybug (HMB), Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Storage of A. kamali that is essential for its use in biological control did not affect the longevity of female and male parasitoids (40.3 ± 14.07 and 31.7 ± 9.57 days, respectively) when kept at 20 ± 2°C in absence of hosts and fed ad libitum with droplets of pure honey. At a storage temperature of 27 ± 2°C the longevity decreased by about 10 days. Fed females did not resorb eggs during the first two weeks of storage at 20 ± 2°. Parasitoid ovogenesis ceased when ovarioles/lateral oviducts were full. The lifetime fecundity was not significantly affected by a storage at 20 ± 2°C of up to 14 days. Foraging activities and oviposition were the main factors influencing the lifespan of female A. kamali.

Highlights

Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green (Homoptera: Pseudo coccidae), commonly named the hibiscus or pink mea lybug (HMB), was accidentally introduced into the island of Grenada in 1994 and has been inexorably spreading throughout the Caribbean islands where it has become a major pest on several crops
As part of the Technical Co-operation Program funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations for the biological control of M. hir sutus, A. kamali is currently shipped from Trinidad to several countries in the Caribbean and South America
Anagyrus kamali individuals that were fed on honey lived longer than individuals stored without food at both temperature treatments (p < 0.05) (Table 1, Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green (Homoptera: Pseudo coccidae), commonly named the hibiscus or pink mea lybug (HMB), was accidentally introduced into the island of Grenada in 1994 and has been inexorably spreading throughout the Caribbean islands where it has become a major pest on several crops. It is present in 18 Carib bean islands, and in Guyana (I.I.E., 1997). Parasitoids in transit may be stored for periods of 4 to 10 days between emergence in the rearing facilities and field release This might result in mortality, and possibly a decrease of lifetime fecundity due to resorption of mature eggs, negatively affecting the efficiency of the released parasitoids

Methods

Results

Conclusion