Reproductive potential and biological characteristics of the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) depending on parasitoid-host ratio
Abstract
This study assessed the biological characteristics of Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with different densities of female parasitoids with Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) caterpillars. Third instar caterpillars of D. saccharalis were exposed to C. flavipes females at parasitoid to host ratios of 1:1, 3:1, 6:1, 9:1, and 12:1, with 5 replications. The parasitism of C. flavipes was 90% at 3:1 ratio, and the emergence was 100% for all densities. The life cycle of C. flavipes ranged from 18.17 ± 0.26 to 18.93 ± 0.50 d with the densities of 12:1 and 1:1 parasitoid to host. The higher progeny of C. flavipes (87.38 ± 2.07 and 67.18 ± 2.57 individuals per D. saccharalis caterpillar) were obtained at the densities of 3:1 and 6:1, respectively. The sex ratio of parasitoid per D. saccharalis caterpillar ranged from 0.12 ± 0.05 to 0.66 ± 0.02 between the parasitoid to host densities of 12:1 and 3:1, respectively. The density of 3:1 C. flavipes females per D. saccharalis caterpillar was found to be optimal for propagation of the parasitoid.
Resumen
Este estudo avaliou as características biológicas de Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) com diferentes densidades de fêmeas de C. flavipes, com lagartas de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Lagartas do terceiro ínstar de D. saccharalis foram expostas às fêmeas de C. flavipes na seguinte proporção (parasitoide para hospedeiro): 1:1, 3:1, 6:1, 9:1, e 12:1, com 5 repetições. O parasitismo de C. flavipes foi de 90% na densidade de 3:1, e a emergência foi de 100% para todas as densidades. O ciclo de vida de C. flavipes variou de 18,17 ± 0,26 a 18,93 ± 0,50 dias, com as densidades de 12:1 e 1:1 parasitóide:hospedeiro. A maior progênie de C. flavipes (87,38 ± 2,07 e 67,18 ± 2,57 indivíduos por lagarta D. saccharalis) foi obtida nas densidades de 3:1 e 6:1, respectivamente. A razão sexual deste parasitoide por lagarta de D. saccharalis variou de 0,12 ± 0,05 a 0,66 ± 0,02 entre as densidades parasitoide para hospedeiro. A densidade de fêmeas de C. flavipes 3:1 por lagarta de D. saccharalis foi considerada ideal para a multiplicação propagação desse parasitoide.
Key Words: biological control; larval parasitoid; sugarcane borer
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