Response of the Parasite Lixophaga diatraeae (Tachinidae) to Photoperiod and Temperature

Abstract

Maggot development of the tachinid Lixophaga diatraeae (Townsend) reared on the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), was observed under different photo-temperature regimes. No significant photoperiod response was detected at either 27° or 21°C; although, maggot development was slightly longer at 11 h L than at 13 h L. Maggot developmental times were identical for both 10 L 16°C and 13 L 18°C: 11 D 7°C (19 days); however, when maintained at 11 L 18°C: 13 D 7°C, maggot development was extended to ca. 32 days. Parasite survival to pupation exceeded 50% for all regimes maintained at 16°C or warmer and was above 42% at the 7°C regimes. At the cooler temperatures, 21°C and below, additional maggots were observed exiting host larvae up to 48 h after the 1st maggot had emerged. Maggot development at 11 L 21°C was increased 2 days when host larvae were taken off an artificial diet 1 wk prior to parasitization. Parasite development in southwestern corn borer larvae, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, held at 11 L 21°C, was identical to development in D. saccharalis (11.1 days).