Reproductive performance of Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare and LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) with previously refrigerated pupae of Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

Je Serrão,Pl Pastori,Ff Pereira,Jc Zanuncio,F.S Ramalho

doi:10.1590/s1519-69842009000400014

Je Serrão, Pl Pastori + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842009000400014

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Abstract

The mass rearing of parasitoids represents a fundamental stage for programmes of biological control. The progeny of the parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare and LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were evaluated on previously refrigerated pupae of Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). Forty-eight to 72 hours-old pupae of B. mori were stored at 10 degrees C for five, 10, 15 or 20 days and then exposed to parasitism by P. elaeisis females. This parasitoid showed shorter duration of the life cycle when reared on pupae of B. mori which were previously stored at 10 degrees C during 15 days. P. elaeisis parasitized 100% of the pupae of B. mori after storage at 10 degrees C during all periods with emergence of this parasitoid from 78 to 100% of these pupae. P. elaeisis had a higher number of progeny per pupa of B. mori stored for 15 days at 10 degrees C. Pupae of B. mori can be stored for 15 days at 10 degrees C before being used to rear P. elaeisis.

Highlights

Hymenoptera parasitoids can reduce the populations of Lepidoptera pests in eucalyptus plantations (Zanuncio et al, 1998; Bragança et al, 1998ab; Dall’Oglio et al, 2003)
B. mori can be an alternative host for pupa endoparasitoids and, for this reason, the objective of this study was to evaluate the progeny of P. elaeisis reared on pupae of this host after storage at 10 °C during different periods
P. elaeisis had minimum (19 to 20 days) and maximum (27 to 31) duration of its life cycle with pupae of B. mori stored at 10 °C during 15 and 20 days, respectively (R2 Treat = 0.6756; ANOVA, F = 15.6398; P < 0.001; Df = 36) (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Hymenoptera parasitoids can reduce the populations of Lepidoptera pests in eucalyptus plantations (Zanuncio et al, 1998; Bragança et al, 1998ab; Dall’Oglio et al, 2003). (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) (Bittencourt and Berti Filho, 1999) and Thyrinteina arnobia (Stoll) and Thyrinteina leucoceraea Rindge (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) (Pereira, 2006). J. Biol., 69(3): 865-869, 2009 characterises P. elaeisis as a species with high potential for the biological control of Lepidoptera defoliators of eucalyptus forests. The preservation of hosts at low temperatures for later use without losses on the reproductive caracteristics of parasitoids is important to increase the production of these agents of biological control (Thomazini and Berti-Filho, 1998; Leopold et al, 1998; Floate, 2002; Pratissoli et al, 2003; Milward-de-Azevedo et al, 2004)

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