EFFECTS OF ADULT NUTRITION ON LONGEVITY, FECUNDITY, AND OFFSPRING SEX RATIO OF TRICHOGRAMMA MINUTUM RILEY (HYMENOPTERA, TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE)

摘要

The role of adult nutrition in longevity, progeny production, and offspring sex ratio of Trichogramma minutum Riley was examined. On average, honey-fed females lived 26.4 days and produced 260 offspring; unfed females lived 3.5 days and produced 80 offspring. Feeding on fructose or sucrose also significantly increased longevity and fecundity over unfed females (fructose, 23 days and 230 offspring; sucrose, 21 days and 230 offspring) but to a lesser degree than feeding on pure honey. Females fed yeast suspension or water had no significant increases in longevity or fecundity compared to unfed females. Offspring sex ratios of long-lived females were male-biased (50-62% males), those of short-lived females were female-biased (74-82% females). Lifetime reproduction of honey-fed females was highest at 20-25 degrees C and relative humidities of 20-80%, but short-term offspring production (during the first 2 days after emergence) was highest at 30 degrees C and 60-80% RH. Females that had access to honey for only a 24-h period did not increase their offspring production over the first 4 days of their lives when compared to unfed females. The potential benefits of feeding adult T. minutum for mass-rearing and field release are discussed.