Abstract
We evaluated possible improvements to the mass rearing of the larval parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on irradiated host wax moth Galleria mellonella L. and Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. The use of irradiated G. mellonella and P. interpunctella larvae at the dose of 150 Gy proved useful for enhancing the parasitism and adult emergence of H. hebetor due to the absence of negative repercussions on parasitoid development. Overall, parasitism was increased as the host larvae was irradiated with higher doses, while significantly higher parasitism was recorded at 150 and 300 Gy compared to lower doses. The female parasitoids preferred the irradiated larvae and significantly higher numbers of larvae were parasitized compared with non-irradiated larvae. The results also showed that irradiated larvae of G. mellonella served better as hosts for H. hebetor as compared with irradiated larvae of P. interpunctella. The implementation of these findings would be helpful for improving the mass production of parasitoids and the effectiveness of releases of biocontrol agents for the control of stored product pests.
Highlights
Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a gregarious ectoparasitoid that attacks the larvae of several species of Lepidoptera, including members of the family Pyralidae that infest stored products [1]
More studies are required to conclusively attribute increases in parasitism performance as well as improves mass-rearing. Given that this scenario has not been investigated in detail in the case of H. hebetor, the aim of the current study is to examine how a nuclear technique can improve mass-rearing of this species, through biological observations in larvae of the wax moth, Galleria melonella L. and the indianmeal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as rearing hosts
Apart from the apparent effects on mass production, it becomes evident that the quality of H. hebetor was substantially better when the species was reared on irradiated hosts, in comparison with non-irradiated ones
Summary
Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a gregarious ectoparasitoid that attacks the larvae of several species of Lepidoptera, including members of the family Pyralidae that infest stored products [1]. In this regard, there are various successful paradigms of control of stored product moths using H. hebetor [2,3]. The use of irradiated hosts has improved the rearing efficacy of different parasitoids and perhaps their quality as biological control agents [6,7]. Irradiation has been used to enhance production of insects’ natural enemies in mass-rearing units [8]. Nuclear techniques can play a prime role in augmentative biological
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