INFLUENCE OF LABORATORY HOSTS ON THE BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF CHELONUS-BLACKBURNI [HYM, BRACONIDAE]

Among 6 laboratory hosts tested, the egg-larval parasitoid Chelonus blackburni Cameron completed its development in only 3;Corcyra cephalonica Stainton, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) and Achroia grisella (Fabricius). The parasitoid failed to develop in Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), Galleria mellonella L. and Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). The development period of the parasitoids obtained from permissive hosts correspond to the development period of their hosts. Development period of P. operculella, A grisella and C. cephalonica were 24.7±2.0, 39.5±2.1 and 50.5±4.1 days respectively while the development period of the parasitoid reared from these hosts were 25.8±1.6, 36.4±3.5 and 42.5±3.5 days respectively. The fecundity of the parasitoids reared on A. grisella, P. operculella and C. cephalonica were 365.2±52.8, 287.9±101.9 and 248.7±50.8 respectively. The size of the parasitoids reared from the above 3 hosts also followed the similar trend. However, no significant difference was observed on the percent parasitism and the longevity of the parasitoids reared on different hosts. This study was conducted at a temperature of 24±2°C and 60±5% RH. © 1990 Lavoisier Abonnements.