Effect of some environmental and biological factors on reproductive characters of Trichogramma spp.

摘要

Many studies have demonstrated that many species of parasitoid wasps can control offspring sex ratio in response to environmental variables. This article tests the effects of temperature, relative humidity, photoperiod, foundress number, foundress age, host number, interval time of host supplying, species of food, species of host and symbiotic bacterium (Wolbachia) on sex ratio of?Trichogramma ostriniae. Results showed that the sex ratio of?T. ostriniae?was affected significantly by temperature (35°C), number of foundress (>2 number), age of foundress (3-day-old) and?Wolbachia. Through transmitted?Wolbachia?from?Trichogramma embryophagum?to?Trichogramma dendrolimi, even the reproductive mode of?T. dendrolimi?was changed from gamogenesis to thelytoky. Our work verifies the sex ratio theory and implies that the potential effectiveness ofTrichogramma?spp. as a biological control agent can be further improved.