FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE OF HABROBRACON HEBETOR SAY (HYM.: BRACONIDAE) TO MEDITERRANEAN FLOUR MOTH (ANAGASTA KUEHNIELLA ZELLER), IN RESPONSE TO PESTICIDES

Abstract

Abstract The functional response is a behavioral phenomena defined as the relation between the parasitized host per each parasitoid and host density. This phenomenon can be useful in assessing parasitoid efficiency for the biological control of the host. Parasitoid wasps are most important insects and they play a significant role in the natural control of pests via their parasitism activities. In this study, the effects of diazinon and malathion were evaluated on the functional response of Habrobracon hebetor Say to different densities of last instar larvae of Anagasta kuehniella Zeller. Young adult females (< 24 h old) of the parasitoid were exposed to LC30 values of pesticides. Host densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 were offered, to treated young females for 24 h in 10 cm Petri dishes. At this point, the parasitism data were recorded. The experiments were conducted in eight replications. The functional response was type Ш in the control and insecticide treatments. Searching efficiency in the control, diazinon and malathion-treated wasps were 0.008±0.002, 0.003±0.002, and 0.004±0.002 h-1, handling times were 1.38±0.1, 7.95±0.91, and 6.4±0.81 h, respectively. Diazinon and malathion had the highest and the lowest effect on searching efficiency of H. hebetor, respectively. After conducting advanced field studies, it was found that malathion may be used as a compatible chemical material with biological control agent in IPM programs.