Laboratory rearing of the solitary egg-larval parasitoid, Chelonus oculator Panzer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on a newly recorded factitious host Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is recorded as a new factitious host for the solitary egg-larval parasitoid, Chelonus oculator Panzer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). A short biology and rearing method of the parasitoid on the new host were studied at 30±1°C, 60–70% relative humidity, with a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D). Chelonus eclosed from 74.60% of parasitized hosts. No significant difference was found between development times of male and female parasitoids. Development of the parasitoid was completed in 28.14±0.47 days in male, and 28.87±0.58 days in female. However, a significant difference was found between adult sizes of male and female parasitoids. Adult dry mass was found 0.88±0.04 mg in male, and 1.99±0.11 mg in female. In addition, C. oculator was successfully reared from P. interpunctella in twenty generations with the explained method. Significant knowledge about biology of C. oculator is still lacking. However, the parasitoid can be candidate for future research as a biological control agent against some important lepidopteran pests, and P. interpunctella may be suitable factitious host for mass rearing of C. oculator.