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Biology ofTrichogramma ostriniae (Hym.: trichogrammatidae) reared onOstrinia nubilalis (Lep.: pyralidae) and survey for additional hosts

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Abstract

Trichogramma ostriniae has been identified as a candidate for biological control ofOstrinia nubilalis. As little was known about the biology of this parasitoid when reared onO. nubilalis, we undertook experiments to quantify biological parameters important to mass-rearing and ase ofT. ostriniae. When reared continuously onO. nubilalis, femaleT. ostriniae on average lived 2.7 days and produced 24 progeny. Continuous access to honey resulted in a four-fold increase in longevity and fecundity and a significant increase in the percentage of females parasitizing eggs. Rates of fecundity and parasitism decreased with age of female. Likewise, emergence rates and percentage of female progeny decreased with age of parental female.T. ostriniae successfully parasitizedO. nubilalis eggs until the blackhead stage. Most parasitism of eggs and eclosion of adults occurred during the first half of photophase. Eggs of 13 Lepidopterans were parasitized byT. ostriniae. Eggs of the Noctuidae, Pyralidae, and Plutellidae experienced higher levels of parasitism than others tested.T. ostriniae appears to be similar to other species ofTrichogramma in several respects and does not possess any characteristics that limit its potential for mass rearing and use for augmentative biological control ofO. nubilalis.

Résumé

Trichogramma ostriniae a été identifié comme un auxiliaire potentiel contreOstrinia nubilalis. Comme la biologie de ce parasitoïde élevé surO. nubilalis est encore peu connu, nous avons entrepris des expériences pour quantifier des paramètres biologiques importants pour l'élevage de masse et l'utilisation deT. ostriniae. Lorsqu'elle est élevée uniquement surO. nubilalis, la femelle deT. ostriniae a une durée de vie moyenne de 2,7 jours et produit une moyenne de 24 descendants. L'accès continu au miel provoque une augmentation de la longévité et de la fécondité multipliée par 4 ainsi qu'un accroissement significatif du pourcentage de femelles parasitant les œufs. Les taux de fécondité et de parasitisme diminuent avec l'âge des femelles. De même, le taux d'émergence et le pourcentage de descendance femelle décroissent avec l'âge de la femelle.T. ostriniae parasite avec succès les œufs d'O. nubilalis jusqu'au stade de noircissement de la capsule céphalique. Le parasitisme des œufs et l'éclosion des adultes ont lieu essentiellement durant la première moitié de la photophase. Les œufs de treize espèces de Lépidoptères ont été parasités parT. ostriniae. Les œufs de Noctuidae, Pyralidae et Plutellidae présentent des niveaux de parasitisme plus élevés que ceux des autres Lépidoptères testés.T. ostriniae est semblable à d'autres espèces de Trichogrammes sur plusieurs points et ne possède pas de caractères limitant ses potentialités en vue d'un élevage de masse et de son utilisation en lutte biologique contreO. nubilalis par des lâchers de renforcement.

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Hoffmann, M.P., Walker, D.L. & Shelton, A.M. Biology ofTrichogramma ostriniae (Hym.: trichogrammatidae) reared onOstrinia nubilalis (Lep.: pyralidae) and survey for additional hosts. Entomophaga 40, 387–402 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02373727

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